Sepsis Survivor Week

Share your story, help others survive.

As many as 60% of sepsis survivors are left not only with physical challenges but mental and emotional challenges too.

During Sepsis Survivor Week we partner with sepsis survivors to honor their experience by sharing their individual stories of survival and bringing awareness to the unseen mental, emotional, and physical challenges many survivors face every day.

Sepsis Survivor Week is an annual observance that takes place the 2nd week of February. In 2026, it will be observed from February 8th to February 14th.

We prepared these shareable resources to help you honor sepsis survivors and spread awareness of the challenges they face. Will you join us?

Click here for three easy ways to start spreading awareness this Sepsis Survivor Week.

Are you a healthcare professional looking for courses around sepsis survivorship? Find courses and discussions in Sepsis Alliance Institute. Click here.

You can also make a gift to support Sepsis Alliance resources by clicking here.

To learn more about sepsis survivorship and find resources for sepsis survivors, click here.

 

Infographics to Share

Spread the word – #SepsisSurvivor

Click here to access downloadable infographics, like the ones below, to share with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #SepsisSurvivor and tag @SepsisAlliance.

       

       

**Please see below for usage regulations

15 Years of Sepsis Awareness Month

This February, as we honor Sepsis Survivor Week, we also celebrate 15 years of Sepsis Awareness Month, reflecting on how far we’ve come, looking ahead to what’s next, and recommitting to our mission to raise sepsis awareness and save lives. Click here to see how you can help this February. #15YearsOfSAM

Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sepsis Alliance Connect is a virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million people survive sepsis and over 350,000 adults die from sepsis in the United States alone. Sepsis Alliance Connect is a place for these survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and those left behind after a sepsis death to come together and share resources, insight, and encouragement about their sepsis experience and life after sepsis. Learn more and join by clicking here.

Download the Sepsis Survivor Week Poster

Thank you to everyone who provided photos for our Sepsis Survivor Week poster in 2021!

Click below to download, print, and share, to honor our Sepsis Survivors and their journey!

 

Download the poster – 11″ x 17″ – click here

 

**Please see below for usage regulations

Life After Sepsis Videos

 

Interested in more videos featuring sepsis survivors? Check out Sepsis Alliance’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Caregiver Information

When your loved one becomes ill with sepsis, it can be a scary time – one that most people aren’t prepared for. You may not know what sepsis is or how to help your loved one.

Download our guide, When a Loved One Has Sepsis: A Caregiver’s Guide, for more information about navigating this difficult time.

To download the guide, click here

 

 

 

 

Read Survivor Stories

Lisa Davis

Survivor

I have been dealing with kidney stones for a long time. I just recently had two big stones that wouldn’t pass without multiple surgeries and I kept getting infections after infection. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) I woke at 3am, 24 hours after my last stone surgery and I couldn’t breathe. My entire body was on fire. I was burning up with a fever and the pain in my entire body was so intense. I called 911, went to hospital were doctors couldn’t get a IV in because of blood clots. I was terrified because the doctor wanted to put me ... Read Full Story

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Louis French

Survivor, Survivor

In 2017, my husband and I were visiting Bogota Colombia on a Narcos TV show inspired vacation. We made a bad choice of having steak tartar at a beautiful modern restaurant. Both of us got symptoms food poisoning. Over the next several days, I became weaker and weaker, needing to rest after an hour of walking. I still had diarrhea though my husband had recovered. We finally went to a hospital clinic where I was diagnosed with giardia and sepsis. (Sepsis and Food Poisoning) I was immediately admitted, put in a private room and the work began. They saved me ... Read Full Story

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Anastasia Lucia

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

In January, 2019, I fell on the ice and severed my femur, which resulted in a hip replacement. Six weeks following that, same hip get slammed by a malfunctioning elevator door, almost knocking me to the ground. From that point on, my leg was constantly draining what seemed to be lymphatic fluid. The doctors input on this, “I’ve never seen this before. I guess some people are extra juicy”. This went on for weeks, until there developed an infection. Now 8 weeks of antibiotics with a PICC at home. Continued pain off and on… for 4 years! Sometimes so bad, ... Read Full Story

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Edward Couzens-Lake

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

Christmas 2022. Covid-19. A bit of a breeze really, similar to having a cold. Considered myself the proverbial tough guy, tested negative by the end of the year. Middle of January 2023, something, clearly, was NOT right. Intense lower back pain, a metallic taste in my mouth and gut that wouldn’t go away and fatigue on a previously unknown basis. Got worse, daily. Dry retching every night, a cough that really felt as if it was to die for. Beginning of Feb 2023. Collapsed at the foot of my mother’s stairs. She said she was calling an ambulance, I said, ... Read Full Story

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Robert Wilgenhof

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I had suffered a gastrointestinal perforation, this is hard to talk about. (Sepsis and Perforated Bowel) I was in the ICU for along time, two long surgeries. I coded on being admitted and in the ICU. I was fully septic and was not expected to survive. I did, I had to learn to walk again. It took years of rehabilitation. It’s been hard. But I refuse to accept defeat or anything less than positivity. Although. I know I’m not quite as awesome as I used to be, but I’ll get there!! Read Full Story

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Usage Regulations

**This site and all resources presented and linked within it are the sole property of Sepsis Alliance. This site and the resources presented are meant to be shared and used for educational and awareness-raising purposes only. The site and resources presented and linked within cannot be reproduced and sold for monetary value. When used for educational and awareness-raising purposes, the materials must be used as follows:

  • The materials must be used in their original, unaltered state, which includes not cropping, adding alternate logos, websites, or additional graphics, etc.
  • The Sepsis Alliance logo and any other logo on the material must be clearly visible
  • The trademark(s) (™)must be clearly visible
  • The copyright must be clearly visible
  • Do not add any logo to the materials, unless you have been given prior approval from Sepsis Alliance
  • The Sepsis: It’s About TIME™ logo cannot be reproduced and used without the approval of Sepsis Alliance

If you are interested in co-branding any of the materials presented or linked, please contact Alex Colvin at acolvin@sepsis.org for pricing information.