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 2025, it will be observed from February 9th to February 15th.

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

Download the toolkit, by clicking 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.

Ready to take action to support sepsis survivorship? The Sepsis Harm and Cost Reduction Act, or Lulu’s Law, is a bipartisan bill with the potential to change the sepsis care landscape. Lulu’s Law is currently pending reintroduction in the 119th Congress.  Tell your lawmakers to prioritize Lulu’s Laws this session by clicking here.

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

 

 


Get the facts

Make sure you have all the facts about sepsis survivors. To download our 2023 Life After Sepsis fact sheet, click here.

Life After Sepsis Information Guide

To download this easy-to-print guide about what to expect after surviving sepsis, click here.

Life After Sepsis Trifold

To download a printable version of this helpful trifold about life after sepsis, click here.

To download a version for viewing online, click here.

To learn more 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

Share Your Story, Help Others Survive

This year’s theme is: Share your story, help others survive.

How does sharing your story or sharing the experience of sepsis survivors help save lives? By raising awareness!

For every hour that treatment is delayed, the risk of mortality increases by 4-9%. Everyone needs to know the signs and symptoms of sepsis to know when they should seek emergency care. Sharing sepsis survivor experiences during Sepsis Survivor Week, and beyond, can help others learn about how infections can lead to sepsis, as well as the signs and symptoms they should watch for.

Additionally, it helps people understand that being discharged from the hospital is not necessarily the end of their sepsis experience. Many survivors experience long-term effects, and we can all better support them through their recovery.

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.

 

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

Elexa Ferguson

Survivor

My sepsis story is long, but I’ll try and keep it short. The week of Thanksgiving 2024 I felt fine, slight sore throat but nothing extreme. Day before Thanksgiving I had some lethargy but managed to help make dinner with my mother in law. Then on Thanksgiving day, in the morning my body aches set in. Extreme all over body aches, nothing could stop them. I was in tears I was in so much pain. I tried to eat thanksgiving dinner with my family, but it was cut short by my body aches and pain. I spend evening, while everyone ... Read Full Story

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MistyAnn McMillan

Survivor, Survivor

It wasn’t my intention to pray, but as I rocked back and forth on my knees with my elbows stretched up the side of my bed, that’s how it would have appeared, and that is exactly when I realized I was in trouble. I had been sick for a couple of days with nausea, and a general unwell feeling but this day was worse than ever. I was alone in my bedroom with my children in their rooms doing the things teenagers usually do when their parents aren’t hovering. I grabbed my notebook and started writing from my position on ... Read Full Story

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Teresa Heidenreich

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

My journey with sepsis began unexpectedly, unfolding over several months filled with intense, recurring pain in my upper right abdomen and stomach. Despite undergoing numerous ultrasounds and CT scans, the doctors were at a loss. It wasn’t until a procedure called ERCP that the mystery was finally solved: I had several stones lodged in my bile duct, igniting a painful bout of pancreatitis. After the procedure in May 2021, which removed all but one stone, I found myself hospitalized for six exhausting days, clinging to hope as I prepared to recover at home. As I settled back into my routine, ... Read Full Story

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Jill W.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I am a healthy, active 50 year old. Next Wednesday will be the one year anniversary of waking up with pain in my knee like I slammed it into a wall overnight. I rode my bike easily to an exercise class at 6 am but by 8 AM my knee was a giant ball and I couldn’t put any weight on the leg. A first visit to the ER didn’t show signs of fever or redness so I was sent home at noon with crutches and instructions to return if fever . By 3 pm the fever had set in ... Read Full Story

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Deb de B

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

Translated from Dutch, original text below. We went to Spain on holiday for 9 days. My husband and I had 4 wonderful days but I started not feeling well on the 5th day. I was vomiting and had diarrhea. I spent the next day in the hotel room. I had muscle pains all over my body and a swollen belly. My husband asked a doctor come. I had some flu symptoms. The doctor gave me some kind of injection in my buttock, paracetamol and something to treat dehydration. That was that. At night I woke up to pee, but I ... Read Full Story

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Usage Regulations

**This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are the sole property of Sepsis Alliance. This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are meant to be shared and used for educational and awareness raising purposes only. The toolkit and the materials 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, that includes not 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 in this toolkit, please contact Alex Sadorf at asadorf@sepsis.org for pricing information.