Sepsis Survivor Week

Share your story, help others survive.

As many as 60% of sepsis survivors are left not only with physical challenges but mental and emotional challenges too.

During Sepsis Survivor Week we partner with sepsis survivors to honor their experience by sharing their individual stories of survival and bringing awareness to the unseen mental, emotional, and physical challenges many survivors face every day.

Sepsis Survivor Week is an annual observance that takes place the 2nd week of February. In 2026, it will be observed from February 8th to February 14th.

We prepared these shareable resources to help you honor sepsis survivors and spread awareness of the challenges they face. Will you join us?

Download the toolkit, by clicking here, for three easy ways to start spreading awareness this Sepsis Survivor Week.

Are you a healthcare professional looking for courses around sepsis survivorship? Find courses and discussions in Sepsis Alliance Institute. Click here.

Ready to take action to support sepsis survivorship? The Sepsis Harm and Cost Reduction Act, or Lulu’s Law, is a bipartisan bill with the potential to change the sepsis care landscape. Lulu’s Law is currently pending reintroduction in the 119th Congress.  Tell your lawmakers to prioritize Lulu’s Laws this session by clicking here.

You can also make a gift to support Sepsis Alliance resources by clicking here.

 

 


Get the facts

Make sure you have all the facts about sepsis survivors. To download our 2023 Life After Sepsis fact sheet, click here.

Life After Sepsis Information Guide

To download this easy-to-print guide about what to expect after surviving sepsis, click here.

Life After Sepsis Trifold

To download a printable version of this helpful trifold about life after sepsis, click here.

To download a version for viewing online, click here.

To learn more and find resources for sepsis survivors, click here.

 

Infographics to Share

Spread the word – #SepsisSurvivor

Click here to access downloadable infographics, like the ones below, to share with your social media community. Remember to hashtag #SepsisSurvivor and tag @SepsisAlliance.

       

       

**Please see below for usage regulations

Share Your Story, Help Others Survive

This year’s theme is: Share your story, help others survive.

How does sharing your story or sharing the experience of sepsis survivors help save lives? By raising awareness!

For every hour that treatment is delayed, the risk of mortality increases by 4-9%. Everyone needs to know the signs and symptoms of sepsis to know when they should seek emergency care. Sharing sepsis survivor experiences during Sepsis Survivor Week, and beyond, can help others learn about how infections can lead to sepsis, as well as the signs and symptoms they should watch for.

Additionally, it helps people understand that being discharged from the hospital is not necessarily the end of their sepsis experience. Many survivors experience long-term effects, and we can all better support them through their recovery.

Sepsis Alliance Connect

Sepsis Alliance Connect is a virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million people survive sepsis and over 350,000 adults die from sepsis in the United States alone. Sepsis Alliance Connect is a place for these survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and those left behind after a sepsis death to come together and share resources, insight, and encouragement about their sepsis experience and life after sepsis. Learn more and join by clicking here.

Download the Sepsis Survivor Week Poster

Thank you to everyone who provided photos for our Sepsis Survivor Week poster in 2021! Click below to download, print, and share.

 

Download the poster – 11″ x 17″ – click here

 

**Please see below for usage regulations

Life After Sepsis Videos

 

Interested in more videos featuring sepsis survivors? Check out Sepsis Alliance’s YouTube channel by clicking here.

Caregiver Information

When your loved one becomes ill with sepsis, it can be a scary time – one that most people aren’t prepared for. You may not know what sepsis is or how to help your loved one.

Download our guide, When a Loved One Has Sepsis: A Caregiver’s Guide, for more information about navigating this difficult time.

To download the guide, click here

 

 

 

 

Read Survivor Stories

Jean Perley

Survivor

So this happened to me. Right before Christmas I had a lot of lower abdominal pain and felt like I had to pee constantly. I went to the Urgent Care near me because it was a weekend. They assumed it was a UTI and called in a prescription for an antibiotic which I took until it was gone. About 3 weeks later I started having the same sensation so I went to my primary doctor. She sent off a urine sample and called in a prescription for antibiotics. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) My pharmacy failed to deliver my medication ... Read Full Story

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Rita H.

Survivor, Survivor

On March 28, 2023, I came face to face with death—and by God’s grace, I survived. It all began during an emotionally overwhelming season. After a painful breakup, I began experiencing prolonged, abnormal menstruation that lasted for 25 days. While I had an OB/GYN appointment scheduled, it was still weeks away, so I turned to my trusted family doctor—someone I had seen for over 25 years. I explained that I was dealing with mood swings and excessive bleeding. According to the medical intake notes, a full culture exam was recommended. But my doctor didn’t review it. She didn’t examine me ... Read Full Story

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Trevor Buckmaster

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

Went in on Tuesday 9/3rd 2024 because my son had a deer tick on his back. The ER doctor sent us away because there was no bull’s-eye on his back. He said if he gets high fever get back to the ER. Sunday 9/8/24 we headed back into the ER because Trevor had a high fever. The doctor started treating him with Tylenol and amoxacillin. His heart was working over time because of the high fever. Trevor was back to himself. Doctor want to see if he could find a bed. I said no, if he has another high temperature ... Read Full Story

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Jacy Henk

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

I woke up nauseated at 3 am. I took a nausea medication and went back to sleep – for 2 weeks in ICU. The infection was found in my pacemaker. (Sepsis and Invasive Devices) I was going into sequential organ failure when my husband found me. That was August of 2023. Today, I am lucky to be alive with all of my limbs, but my kidneys took the worst of it. I suffer from muscle weakness, joint pain, memory loss, and balance issues. My pacemaker was initially put in due to heart failure, which came from a chemotherapy drug when ... Read Full Story

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Alyvia C.

Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor, Survivor

Towards the beginning if this year, I came down with what was believed to be strep. My illness consisted of swollen lymph nodes, tonsils, and a sore throat. I was in bed for days. I began feeling better after I went to an urgent care in my town and started on antibiotics. Stupidly, I didn’t finish my round of antibiotics because I began to feel better. (Sepsis and Strep Throat) About a week later, I started experiencing extreme pain in my left lung. Thinking it was muscle spasms, I ignored it. After suffering from the pain for a week, I ... Read Full Story

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Usage Regulations

**This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are the sole property of Sepsis Alliance. This toolkit and the materials presented and linked within it are meant to be shared and used for educational and awareness raising purposes only. The toolkit and the materials presented and linked within cannot be reproduced and sold for monetary value. When used for educational and awareness raising purposes, the materials must be used as follows:

  • The materials must be used in their original unaltered state, that includes not adding alternate logos, websites, or additional graphics, etc.
  • The Sepsis Alliance logo and any other logo on the material must be clearly visible
  • The trademark(s) (™)must be clearly visible
  • The copyright must be clearly visible
  • Do not add any logo to the materials, unless you have been given prior approval from Sepsis Alliance
  • The Sepsis: It’s About TIME™ logo cannot be reproduced and used without the approval of Sepsis Alliance

If you are interested in co-branding any of the materials presented or linked in this toolkit, please contact Alex Sadorf at asadorf@sepsis.org for pricing information.