After Woman's Parents Die from Sepsis 3 Months Apart in 'Devastating' Coincidence, She Gets a UTI that Leads to the Illness

Lyndsey Feeney is creating awareness about sepsis and urging people to know the signs and to get urgent medical care

A woman who lost both of her parents to sepsis nearly died from the illness, which was triggered by a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Lyndsey Feeney, 45, lost her father Archie, 73, in April after he suffered an arm injury. The wound became infected and bacteria entered his skin, causing cellulitis, which then progressed to sepsis.

Three months later, in July, Feeney's mother Cathy, 72, who had chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder (COPD) developed a urinary tract infection. Like her late husband, she was unable to fight the infection and succumbed to fatal sepsis.

“It was really horrible, losing both of them so close together — I still haven’t come to terms with it,” Feeney told South West News Service via The Daily Mail.

Sepsis occurs when a person's immune system has a dangerous reaction to an infection, causing extensive inflammation throughout the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is considered a medical emergency and must be treated as soon as possible because it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

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“[My father had] become delirious and was pulling out his IV drips,” Feeney shared. “We were told he’d wake up, but his organs started shutting down.”

Her mother, who died 16 hours after arriving at the hospital, also struggled with mental confusion.

“Mum had been very confused and lethargic, so my sister Debbie called an ambulance, but they didn’t arrive until nearly 3 am,” Feeney told the publication.

At the end of November, Feeney, who lives in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, said she started experiencing back pain and a high fever and struggled to pass urine.

She went to the hospital a few days later and learned she had a urinary tract infection. Like her mother's infection, it had not been treated quickly and had progressed to sepsis.

Luckily, she was given antibiotics and her body responded well.

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Now she’s hoping to raise awareness about sepsis, saying, “They call it the silent killer for a reason. If it’s not caught early enough, there’s nothing that can be done.”

She urges people to recognize the symptoms of sepsis — confusion, high fever, shivering, low blood pressure, and an elevated heart rate, according to the Cleveland Clinic — and to seek immediate medical care. Feeney's prompt treatment with antibiotics once she arrived at the hospital helped stop the sepsis from progressing.

“It’s devastating,” Feeney said, “but if sharing my story can help save someone else, then it’s worth it."