Wendy’s Story: Sepsis Awareness and Protocols Saved My Life

Despite my professional background as a nurse practitioner and specialist in public health, I waited too long to seek treatment for what I thought was “just a respiratory virus.” Then one night I developed severe breathing difficulties. My husband took me to the closest ER, at Kent Hospital. By the time we arrived, I was in respiratory distress. I did not realize that I had developed pneumonia and was also in septic shock.

 Thankfully, the ER intake nurse recognized what was happening. Barely five minutes after arriving at the ER, I was receiving IV antibiotics, vasopressors, oxygen, and all of the supportive care needed for my condition. I am certain that these were life- and limb-saving actions. I spent three weeks in the hospital, where I underwent lung surgery and spent a couple of days in the ICU. Today I am fully functional and very grateful for the care I received.

 I firmly believe that the work of the Gianna Cirella Memorial Fund greatly contributed to my continued existence by enshrining sepsis protocols into state law to improve awareness, recognition, and treatment of sepsis, and to empower nurses to initiate treatment. I am forever thankful.

 ~ Wendy D.