We took family pictures this weekend and as our photographer pulled my husband and son aside to take dad and son pictures, I felt a lump in my throat and my eyes began to tear up. In that moment I realized that family pictures could have looked a lot different if I had not survived sepsis. It was yet another reminder that our family of three was almost a family of two. Family pictures were almost dad and son pictures. Sepsis almost took my life.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to infection and claims more than 275,000 lives in the United States each year, leaving many others with life-changing disabilities.
Somehow, I am one of the lucky ones. I survived and the only life-changing effect has been the change in my vision. Not my actual vision, but my vision of what is important in life. Surviving sepsis opened my eyes to all of the small things in life that I had previously taken for granted.
Taking a simple walk around the park by our house with my son reminds me that at one point I was unable to walk without the assistance of a walker.
Being able to talk with my husband about my day reminds me that at one point I couldn’t breathe on my own.
Being able to scoop up my son in my arms when he asks to be held reminds me that so many others who have faced sepsis no longer have arms to scoop up their children.
Hearing my son call me “mama” reminds me that I survived maternal sepsis, the third leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States and globally.
Studies have shown that instances of maternal sepsis in the United States are increasing. I am committed to sharing my story to raise awareness about maternal sepsis and empower other mothers with the knowledge to know the signs of sepsis and advocate for their own health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, A patient with sepsis might have one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- High heart rate
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold
- Shortness of breath
- Clammy or sweaty skin
A Thanksgiving with No Turkey (Option 2)
There is no turkey in the oven, no living room full of my family watching football and no smell of pie filling my house, but today and every day since I survived sepsis, are Thanksgiving for me.
Every day I am thankful that I survived sepsis.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to infection and claims more than 275,000 lives in the United States each year, leaving many others with life-changing disabilities.
Somehow, I survived, and I get to celebrate another holiday with my family. I constantly think about the women who have died from maternal sepsis, which is responsible for nearly a quarter of all maternal deaths in United States. Those women will never know what it is like to hear their child say “mama” or be able to hold their child when they are sick. They will never know what it is like to hear their child yell “touchdown” for every exciting play during a football game. They will never know what it is like to scoop their child’s poop out of the bathtub or step on blocks in the middle of the night. Because of maternal sepsis they will not be around to celebrate birthdays and holidays, but I am.
I am thankful that I am here. I am thankful that I survived sepsis. I am thankful that sepsis did not take any of my limbs or leave me with any other life-changing disabilities. I am thankful that I can share my story in an effort to help spread awareness about maternal sepsis.
Maternal sepsis can be difficult to recognize because a woman’s body experiences so many changes during and after delivery. Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, temperature and pain are all things that might happen after giving birth, but they are also possible signs of sepsis. In my experience you can’t always rely on medical professionals to recognize sepsis. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself or a loved one to ask a doctor if symptoms could be related to sepsis.
About the Rory Staunton Foundation
The Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention was established by Orlaith and Ciaran Staunton following the preventable death of their 12-year-old son Rory Staunton from sepsis in 2012. As the leading sepsis advocacy organization in the United States, the Foundation works to end the hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths and devastating disabilities caused by sepsis each year and to support those affected by the condition. Through its education and awareness programs, the Foundation increases understanding of the dangers and signs of sepsis, promotes rapid treatment, and encourages self-advocacy in the medical environment. The Foundation actively supports the establishment of mandatory sepsis protocols in each state to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in hospitals and other medical settings.
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