Pictures: Charity marks World Sepsis Day with fundraising event

Advocacy groups such as the Irish Sepsis Foundation play a vital role in supporting survivors and their families, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

“They also ensure that the lived experiences of patients guide our health service, whether that’s in strategies that we develop or in planning our services,” he said.

Mr Harris was speaking via video link at a ball held by the Cork-based charity at the Rochestown Park Hotel to mark World Sepsis Day 2024.

The Taoiseach said he wanted to pay tribute to the Irish Sepsis Foundation for its work in highlighting the risks of sepsis.

“As we all know, sepsis can develop and progress rapidly, incredibly quickly, and the tremendous work done by members of the foundation in helping to raise public awareness of sepsis can help save lives,” Mr Harris said.

The Irish Sepsis Foundation was founded in 2022 by Doireann O’Mahony, a Cork barrister who specialises in medical negligence cases.

As part of the foundation’s ball, six ‘Sepsis Stars’ took to the stage and shared their personal stories, highlighting that nobody is immune from the condition which causes at least 3,000 deaths a year in Ireland.

Simone Kavanagh spoke about her little sister Lauren’s battle for her life after a simple cut resulting from a fall led to her hospitalisation and emergency surgery for sepsis.

Leah Punch spoke of enduring maternal sepsis at just 22 years old after a C-section delivery, recounting the pain of being separated from her newborn son for weeks on end while in recovery, while still describing herself as “one of the lucky ones”.

Sinead O’Reilly honoured her late sister-in-law Sarah, who tragically died after a short battle with aggressive sepsis, leaving behind two beautiful newborn twins and an adoring husband rear the children on his own while battling his grief.

Kim Wyse spoke about her nightmare experience with sepsis during pregnancy when an abdominal abscess burst at 23 weeks’ gestation, leaving her battling for her life and that of her unborn baby. She and her miracle daughter Isabelle survived.

Former League of Ireland football player Robbie Horgan spoke of being within hours of death with double pneumonia, influenza-A and sepsis, describing himself as “stubborn” when it came to asking for help, but crediting his wife Suzanne for saving his life by insisting he be brought to A&E where his treatment was escalated.

Katelyn Walsh spoke of her ordeal during the last few weeks of her nursing internship. While she was looking after her own hospital patients and looking forward to qualifying, suddenly all that changed and she ended up being a patient herself, on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit for 12 days battling sepsis.

“Each of the six testimonials in their own way showed just how suddenly sepsis can strike, and demonstrated that nobody is immune, no matter the age, health or fitness level of the individual,” Ms O’Mahony told The Echo.

“Anyone with any infection can develop sepsis, which is why it’s so important to know and be alert to the signs and symptoms, and seek urgent medical attention if you suspect it.” The Irish Sepsis Foundation offers support at 083 1812341.