Sepsis Awareness Celebration

Today marks the one year anniversary of my epic battle with Advanced Septic Shock and recovering from a Group A Strep blood infection.  It all still feels quite raw - going from 100% healthy to, in less than 24 hours, my heart nearly stopping, my internal organs shutting down, and needing to spend more than a week in the ICU.  Being so close to death, so close to losing the experience of raising my then six week old son Grayson, to being a wife to my new husband and a Step Mom to my sweet daughter Maya is still difficult to comprehend.

Most people are not so lucky.  Mortality rates for Sepsis are greater than 60%, and are greater than 72% when it originates in your stomach.  More people die each year from Sepsis than prostate cancer, AIDS, and breast cancer combined.  I'm blessed and eternally grateful for Chris, my ER doctor at Marin General for recognizing the signs of Sepsis and saving my life. 

Today I am raising money for Sepsis Alliance.  I am matching every dollar raised with the hopes that others can be saved like I was.  Recovery is a journey, with the mental one taking much longer than the physical one.  I'm hopeful raising funds will be a celebratory closure to an event that no doubt shapes who I am today and who I am to become.  I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me in this journey, especially my beautiful, rock of a husband Bryan.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!