Sepsis Awareness Month: My Battle with Sepsis
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an essay entitled “The Fight is On”. Many of you guessed it was about me, and you were right, it is about me and about my fight against sepsis. I still have some lingering issues from the battle, and I’ve been told it’s going to be some time before I’m back to normal. And there’s a chance that may never be the person I was.
Sepsis is serious and is the leading cause of death in hospitals. Because of my encounter with it, I think it’s important that you know more about sepsis. Until it happened to me, I knew almost nothing about sepsis or how dangerous it is.
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and a great time to let you know more about sepsis, its symptoms, and how deadly serious it is. Trust me – I know.
Sepsis, a life-threatening condition arising from the body’s overwhelming response to an infection, is a silent and deadly threat. While it is a leading cause of death in hospitals, many people remain unaware of its symptoms and severity. In response, Sepsis Awareness Month, observed every September, stands as a critical public health initiative dedicated to educating the public, empowering healthcare professionals, and ultimately saving lives. This annual observance serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency required to combat a condition that claims millions of lives each year.
The first step in fighting sepsis is understanding what it is.
Sepsis is not an infection itself, but rather the body’s extreme, disproportionate reaction to one. When an infection—whether from a minor cut, pneumonia, or a urinary tract infection—goes unchecked, the body’s immune system can spiral into a hyperactive state. Instead of just fighting the invading pathogens, this uncontrolled response begins to damage the body’s own tissues and organs.
This cascade of events can lead to widespread inflammation, organ dysfunction, and, if not treated immediately, septic shock and death. Globally, sepsis accounts for an estimated 11 million deaths annually, making it a more significant killer than many well-known diseases. Raising awareness is the most effective weapon against this grim statistic, as early recognition and treatment dramatically increase the chances of survival.
The challenge with sepsis lies in its non-specific symptoms, which can easily be mistaken for other common illnesses like the flu. This is why a key focus of Sepsis Awareness Month is teaching people to “think sepsis.” The Sepsis Alliance has promoted a memorable acronym, TIME, to help people remember the most common signs: Temperature (higher or lower than normal), Infection (signs of an existing or recent infection), Mental Decline (confusion, sleepiness, or disorientation), and Extremely Ill (severe pain, discomfort, or shortness of breath). It is vital to seek immediate medical attention if a person with an infection begins to exhibit any of these symptoms and to ask medical staff, “Could it be sepsis?” The difference between life and death can be measured in minutes, as every hour of delayed treatment increases mortality rates.
While anyone with an infection can develop sepsis, certain populations are at a higher risk. This includes the very young, the elderly, individuals with weakened immune systems due to conditions like diabetes or cancer, and those who have recently been hospitalized or undergone surgery. Sepsis Awareness Month dedicates significant efforts to reaching these vulnerable communities and their caregivers. Campaigns highlight the importance of infection prevention, such as proper hand hygiene and vaccination, which can stop sepsis before it even begins.
Sepsis Awareness Month is more than just a public service announcement; it is a movement driven by organizations, healthcare systems, and survivors. Founded by the Sepsis Alliance in 2011, the month provides a platform for education, advocacy, and fundraising. Throughout September, a variety of activities take place, from local hospital seminars and community health fairs to large-scale national campaigns. The goal is to create a ripple effect of knowledge, ensuring that everyone—from emergency room doctors to school nurses and concerned parents—is equipped to recognize the signs and act swiftly. The month also honors the resilience of sepsis survivors and remembers those who have lost their lives to the condition, giving a human face to the statistics.
Sepsis Awareness Month is an annual observance that underscores the critical need for vigilance against a silent killer. By helping people understand what sepsis is, how to recognize its symptoms, and who is most at risk, we can dramatically improve outcomes.
The mission is simple yet profound: to transform public indifference into informed action. As we move forward, the message of Sepsis Awareness Month should resonate year-round and empower individuals to trust their instincts, get urgent care, and ultimately save lives.
Trust me, though I still have some lingering issues from sepsis, and I’ve not yet beaten it completely, I managed to survive sepsis and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. If you have any of the symptoms of sepsis, don’t ignore them like I did. See your doctor or go to the hospital right away. The life you save may be your own or someone you deeply care about.
So glad that you are on the mend. Thanks for alerting us to this issue. The more informed we are, the better we are able to protect ourselves.
Wow, what a nasty and deadly condition to undergo. Take care and thank you kindly for this awareness. It can be life saving.
Lauchie
When you and I had a “Support Session” not too long ago, and you needed to reschedule it because you said you had a bad case of Covid, I could tell you just weren’t yourself. Looking back on our emails we exchanged, it all makes sense now. I feel terrible for what you went/are still going through.
It very heartening to know that you’re really on the mend this time. Thank you for sharing this very personal experience with all of us.
Now, not only do you (and Darcy) keep us safe with our computers online, you’ve branched out to keeping us safe in field of healthcare as well. You really are an amazing person – and the world is better off for having you in it.
-Marty
I have never known that September was “Sepsis Awareness Month “. Thank you for sharing your battle with Sepsis. I am going to pass this information on to people I know. Also, thanks to you, I will watch for any signs of sepsis as I have just had an operation on my hand last week . Also, 3 1/2 years ago, had heart valve replacement surgery and the next day was readmitted to hospital and had to have pacemaker implanted .I am so glad that you are doing better and hope very soon you can let us know that you are well and hopefully free of this horrible condition. My prayers will be with you.
So glad you are doing better.
TC, so glad you’re improving! I’ve had a few friends go through a hospitalization for sepsis, it’s not something anyone wants. So glad you’ve told us about your experience, maybe it will be a reminder to take care of ourselves! Thanks for sharing your experience! Take care TC!
glad you are on the mend. thanks for sharing with us. take care
I’m echoing good wishes to you and pleased to learn you are gaining ground back to health may it continue with speed. Great to spread awareness re Sepsis, thank you.
I was sorry to hear you’ve been ill. I hope you continue to get better. Yes, it does take time to recover. That’s what happened to me a few years ago. I had no idea what Sepsis was before that. Take care. My thoughts are with you,
I pray the Lord blesses you with complete healing from the ordeal. And thank you for the information. I’ve heard the term “sepsis” many times throughout my life, but I never took the time to really think about it or learn exactly what it is. Now I know–and I won’t forget it. I can’t believe you still did the daily and weekly newsletters without missing a beat! But you really need to put yourself first every once in a while. I appreciate you letting us in on what’s been going on. I’ve been a member since (I believe) 1998, and you’ve become a daily contact in my–and many other people’s–lives that we look forward to hearing from every day. God bless.
Oh, so sorry you are going through this …Glad to know that you are on the mend and hopefully will be feeling much better..
Thank you so much for your kindness in sharing this information with us.
May God bless you and heal you totally.
As ever,
Norma
Wow! Desperately sorry to hear that you have been so ill. You have my greatest sympathy. Hope you have a full recovery. The world needs someone like you to lead us in the fight against the computer problems that arise and you give us suprlative advice. You are a great friend and are so respected down here in NZ.
Norris
So pleased to hear you are getting better TC. It is a really frightening experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. My husband spent 3 days in ICU and 2 weeks in hospital with it last year. A stone had escaped from his gall bladder and blocked the bile duct from the liver causing a massive infection. They were able to remove the stone and antibiotics thankfully cleared the infection. His gall bladder was removed a few weeks later. It all happened so quickly, and we were very lucky that the hospital were very efficient in finding the cause and treating him. His recovery took a while, to be expected at 87 but the very best thing………..he’s here and enjoying life. So TC , I look forward to hearing that you are once more enjoying your life and taking those walks!
Lots of prayers and good wishes are coming your way. Take good care of yourself and think about still having many good years ahead of you to enjoy. Health problems can change the way we are used to doing things. But just because we can’t do everything we did before, doesn’t mean we can’t still do a lot to enjoy life in different ways. God Bless You and keep you safe and help you to feel better each and every day.
I am so very glad you are on the mend and have such a positive attitude. If there is anything that is good out of this all, in addition to your sharing of a very personal struggle and making us all aware of sepsis, it is that you will see the beauty and the gift we have of every day that we are on this earth. My husband died suddenly years ago and since that day, I truly appreciate the gift of every single day I am still here. You now have that gift of appreciation and it makes every day a better one and puts perspective on little issues we used to make larger. God’s blessings on you as you recover and surely reach your goals.
Thanks for making us aware of Sepsis. I knew nothing about it until reading this!
Oh, my goodness! I’m so very glad you are on the mend. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this. But I thank you for using your experience to educate the rest of us on what to look out for. Wishing you a very speedy, complete recovery.
Thank you for the informative article. So good to know you are improving and getting out of danger. When I read your article, I kept being reminded of my late husband’s journey through a similar situation, but with a staph infection caused by improperly “cleaned” instruments used during bone surgery. This was a lifelong infection that closely resembled your scary journey with sepsis. Staph stays in your body for the rest of your life and will erupt any time a bone is broken, as staph stays in the bone marrow and will attack your body all over again if that happens. I wonder if sepsis does the same? Hospitals are the source of a lot of bad stuff, so it’s a danger any time we have to go there. Careless “cleaning” and other sloppy habits by those who care for us during a stay there cause us to be concerned anytime we have to go there. Stay safe and continue to be on the mend. And thanks again for your very informative article.
Wishing you continued recovery and overcoming the lingering effects of sepsis. I’m a retired nurse and I’ve seen so many cases over the years. Care has definitely improved and recovery is more likely now than it was 40 years ago. Please keep up your good work on your recovery. And thank you for all the good work you’ve done to take care of all of us. It’s your turn to be taken care of now. Prayers and healing thoughts are coming your way. Mary
Great to hear that you are recovering. Sounds awful. All the best and thanks for the awareness heads up.
TC:
Glad you’re doing better! You’re in our prayers. I’m assuming that you are recuperating at home, which is a good sign.
Stay strong and hang in there.
U.A.
What a treasure you are TC!! To not only give us superb tech advice you have bravely helped us to understand what you have been, and still are, going through and giving us information to keep us healthy also. May God Bless you and bring you back to full health and happiness.
Rona
TC, thank you for giving us the info about sepsis ~ a dreaded health issue!
So sorry you’re going thru such a tough time but we know you will miraculously pull through.
And yes, you ARE an amazing person, giving us valuable information on computers, and now – awareness on sepsis. The world is a better place because you are in it.
Our thoughts are with you every step of your healing journey, and as you can see/read, we’re all sending you our best & warmest wishes for a speedy & full recovery.
Here’s to better days ahead!!!
Although I’ve known (heard about is more the idea) people who’ve had sepsis I wasn’t aware that someone may have some lingering issues. Of course, that piece of information could be said about a multitude of health issues, but still some good information.
I’m also not only glad that you’re on the mend, I’m also thankful for your reminder. Thank you.
Sorry you are going through all this sepsis crap. Thank you for bringing this to all of our attention. I will be sharing with all my friends and family. God bless you, TC. Praying for a speedy and complete recovery for you.
I’m so sorry to hear about this awful infection you’re fighting! Thank God you’re getting better! How did you know you had it? I know you shared the symptoms, but what about you specifically? I’ve always counted on you to be there to save us when our computers are in trouble and always in my inbox with so much great information. I’m so glad you’re getting better!
I want to thank every one of you for your nice comments and your good wishes. I’m on the mend. Some days are better than others but I’m heading in the right direction. I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to “nnomal.” I’m sure many people probably think I was never normal. Anyway, thank you all so much. It means so much to me
As for he question about how did I know I had it? I didn’t. I was very sick and just didn’t know how sick. I had been sick for over a month. My son stopped by and took one look at me and told me he was taking me to he hospital… but I hardly remember that day. Mental confusion is another symptom of sepsis. So, I didn’t know I had sepsis, I just knew I was very ill. Going to the hospital when I did probably saved my life.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Sorry to hear you were ill. Happy you are on the mend. Thanks for the aweness. Had a friend who almost died from it. I knew nothing about it. You take care
Sharon