‘We’ll never forget what they did for mum’

The daughter of a woman, still recovering from the life-altering effects of sepsis, is set to host a coffee morning in aid of the Irish Sepsis Foundation.

Jane Kinsella, a school teacher, is organising the event at the Moynehall family home (H12K033), just outside Cavan Town, for September 20, from 10am to 2pm.

The fundraiser, which started with a modest €1,200 goal on GoFundMe, has already managed to raise over 80% of that total. All proceeds from the coffee morning will go directly towards supporting research, awareness, and care initiatives by the Irish Sepsis Foundation.

The event is particularly personal for Jane as her mother Sandra - a well-known chiropodist - was hospitalised with sepsis in what Jane describes as a terrifying and eye-opening experience.

Sandra was in hospital for nearly two weeks and has since made an “amazing recovery”, but it hasn’t been easy.

“We’re incredibly lucky that mummy made a full recovery and we’re aware of that every day,” Jane says.

“She’s doing really well now, but there were days when we genuinely didn’t know what way things were going to go.”

Sandra’s illness came on quickly. A normally healthy and active woman, she became seriously unwell over the course of a weekend, and by the Tuesday, Jane had been urgently called home from work by doctors as her mother's condition continued to rapidly deteriorate.

Two days later Sandra was admitted to Cavan General Hospital where doctors confirmed she had developed sepsis. Jane believes greater public awareness around the signs and dangers of sepsis is needed to ensure people act more quickly.

“It was so scary,” Jane recalls. “None of us had ever really heard of sepsis before - we didn’t know the signs or how serious it could be.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to infection. It can develop from something as minor as a cut, a urinary tract infection, or even a long-lying chest infection. If not recognised and treated early, sepsis can lead to organ failure, septic shock, and even death.

Jane says one of the main aims of the coffee morning is to educate people about the warning signs using the acronym SEPSIS: Slurred speech or confusion; Extreme shivering or muscle pain; Passing no urine in a day; Severe breathlessness; 'I feel like I’m going to die'; and Skin mottled, discoloured or very pale.

Sepsis is treatable if it’s caught early Jane stresses, but she says “people need to know what to look for”.

Sandra is still dealing with the aftermath of her illness. Although she overcame the initial infection, she continues to suffer from post-sepsis syndrome - a condition that causes fatigue and muscle weakness. “It’s like PTSD, but for your body,” Jane explains. “She just can’t work the way she used to.”

Jane credits the Irish Sepsis Foundation for providing vital information and emotional support in the months following Sandra’s hospitalisation. “They were brilliant. They reached out right away and were there whenever we needed them. It’s mostly volunteers, but the work they do is incredible.”

She also extends a wholesome and heartfelt thanks to Consultant Physician Dr Paulo Pinheiro and his team at Cavan General Hospital, who provided life-saving care during Sandra’s illness.

“They were just second to none. We’ll never forget what they did for mum.”

Now, with the community’s support, Jane hopes to give something back and at the same time help others understand the dangers of sepsis before it’s too late.

“When we started talking about what had happened to mummy, we realised how many other people had gone through similar experiences but they don't talk about it or they don't know about it.”