Our Sepsis Stories
The goal of Our Sepsis Stories is to put a face on sepsis and bring awareness and educate the public about sepsis, what can trigger it and how it affects patients and their families. Our Sepsis Stories have been submitted by sepsis survivors, family members and the loved ones of those lost to sepsis.
The stories and opinions posted in Our Sepsis Stories are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of the Canadian Sepsis Foundation, its employees, contractors, or volunteers.
Have you thought about sharing your sepsis story? Share your story here.
Alice Mary O.
My Mother; Alice Mary Onyona was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2008. In 2016 medical reports showed that she had mitral valve regurgitation. There was fluid build-up around her lungs (pleural effusion). As a result, she had a persistent cough.
Angie N.
But at 5 days, I took a turn and was incubated and intubated for weeks. My parents received their very own Christmas miracle when the Doctor told them I was able to finally go home. Being a premie my lungs never fully developed and as a child I was prone to getting viral and bacterial infections. When I got sick, it hit me hard and for weeks. As I matured, I watched my peers run, play sports and dance. I always knew I was different. I could never breath properly after any type of exertion.
Audra S.
I was a 100% healthy, 43-year-old woman. I am also a registered nurse. I became ill in December of 2012 as I was getting ready for that year's Christmas festivities. My 4 daughters, aged 14 and under, husband and I were all busy with work, school, friends, Christmas prep and parties.
Christine C.
Can you imagine waking up in ICU, being informed that you had been on life support for a month and that you almost died and having no memory of how you got there?! It sounds like a nightmare but is the reality for many people surviving septic shock.
Dario S.
5 years ago, had someone said to me “life is about to put you on a path that’s going to pull the very tapestry of your life as you know it right out from underneath you, flip you upside down and turn your world inside out.” I would have never believed it, but life did exactly just that. This is our story.
Deborah F.
My sepsis story begins November 1 2016.
I woke up that morning with shivers. Around noon the nausea, vomiting and fever started. I'm not sure how high my temp got that day but I do remember having a 101 temp a couple of hours after taking tylenol.
Diane M.
Hi, I'm Diane M.,
My sepsis story started July 8 2016, I was having an ovary removed to check for cancer. what was suppose to be a 45 minute procedure turned into a 1.5 hrs, and abdominal staples which I wasn't supposed to have. I was sent home with no explanation just told to return in a week to have staples removed.
Jennifer H.
Sepsis and Hodgkin Lymphoma: Realistic Expectations
I am still in shock! No pun intended. Using a sense of humour does help with accepting and advocating for your life. It also can act as a distraction to the seriousness of a deadly diagnosis such as Sepsis.
Joanne M.
Two days before Christmas - my mother’s favourite holiday - she was told that they found cancer on her lung and that it spread throughout her body. Our family was preparing for a lung cancer diagnosis and on January 4, 2022 she was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Kirsten H.
On March 8th 2019, I woke up feeling completely normal. At 9am I caught the bus to work and felt a sharp intense pain in my right side. By the time I got to work I was in overwhelming pain, and headed to the hospital.