September

It’s difficult to get attention for a cause. When something like the Ice Bucket Challenge catches on, it’s so gratifying for the charity – in this case, defeating ALS. It’s hard to get momentum, to capture peoples’ attention, and every cause is worthy. September is Sepsis Awareness month and there’s actually some good news on the sepsis front. 

A new survey finds 55% of Americans are now aware of sepsis. (The research wasn’t conducted in Canada.) It’s the first time the awareness level has passed 50%. And results also show that 32% of that 55% learned about sepsis from the “news and entertainment media”. That tells us that the recent deaths of Patty Duke and Muhammad Ali, both from sepsis, were likely major factors. Duke’s family insisted that her doctor name sepsis as her cause of death because most doctors will only say “complications” or some other vague term even when sepsis was clearly the cause. It’s something that the awareness organizations fight every day. Some doctors refuse to use the word because they say people don’t understand it. You can see how that misses the point of educating people about the illness.

Only 12% learned about sepsis from a medical professional, and most who are aware of the condition can’t name all of the symptoms. (By the way, I had every symptom named here, and complained about at least four of them to the doctor who misdiagnosed me and the receptionist who refused to let me see my physician.)

September 13 is World Sepsis Day, so far unrecognized by the World Health Organization but still marked by those of us who are trying to make it so. Last year, I was in Toronto with fellow survivor Ray Schacter as we presented an international webinar about having and recovering from sepsis, from the patient’s point of view. This year, my story will be told in several places, including a hospital in New Jersey where a nurse-advocate will share what happened to me as part of her campaign. A company involved in sepsis awareness also asked to use it. The people at the Sepsis Alliance asked my permission. I gave them carte blanche. If anyone at any time thinks sharing my experience will help prevent an ordeal for someone else, they’re welcome to tell it any way they want to. And that goes for you, too. Thanks.