My parents died within two months of each other from silent killer sepsis… weeks later I was hospitalized with it too

A woman whose parents died of sepsis within eight weeks of each other developed the same life-threatening condition just four months later.

Lyndsey Feeney, 45, lost both her parents Archie, 73, and Cathy, 72, in April and July 2024.

Lyndsey was still grieving when she was admitted to hospital believing she had a kidney infection.

But she feared she would lose her own life when she was diagnosed with sepsis, caused by a urinary tract infection.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the body’s response to an infection causes widespread inflammation, leading to organ damage or failure.

Between 20 and 50 percent of patients will die due to complications related to the condition.

Fortunately, the mother of three has recovered after being in hospital for five days.

Lyndsey, who is on disability benefits for mental health problems, from Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, said: ‘I was lucky to catch mine early.

Lyndsey’s mother Cathy died in the summer after contracting a urinary tract infection that turned septic.

‘But many people like my mother and father are not so lucky. I think there needs to be more awareness about the disease.

‘It was really devastating to lose them both so close to each other. I still haven’t come to terms with it.’

Lyndsey’s father Archie was in relatively good health when he fell and hurt his arm in April this year, leaving him in hospital.

But after six days in the ward he developed cellulitis, a bacterial infection that affects the deeper layers of the skin.

The bug caused an extreme reaction in his body, resulting in sepsis.

Lyndsey said: “They put him to sleep because he became delirious and pulled out his IV drips.

“We were told he would wake up, but his organs started shutting down.”

Archie died on April 26, 2024 from septic shock. Two months later, her mother, Cathy, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also became ill.

Lyndsey’s father Archie died within two months of her mother earlier this year – both deaths were the result of sepsis that was diagnosed too late.

Lyndsey said: ‘My mother was very confused and lethargic so my sister Debbie called an ambulance but they didn’t arrive until almost 3am.’

Cathy was admitted to hospital and died just 16 hours later due to a urine infection that had caused sepsis.

Although Lyndsey believes the trauma of Archie’s death may have contributed to her mother’s rapid decline.

Then earlier this month, Lyndsey fell ill in what seemed like an ongoing nightmare.

She had back pain, a high fever and had difficulty urinating. Assuming she had contracted a urinary tract infection, she thought little of it.

But when the fever worsened, she went to the hospital herself, where she was admitted occasionally.

To her horror, doctors revealed that she had suffered the same septic infection as her mother, causing her to immediately fear that she would suffer the same fate.

Fortunately, the antibiotic treatment proved successful and Lyndsey is now home, but still has persistent back pain.

She said: ‘By the time I got out of hospital I felt much better. “I was really lucky to catch it so early, but I’m still worried it could happen again.”

Lyndsey is calling for greater awareness of the condition.

‘They don’t call it the silent killer for nothing. If it’s not caught early enough, nothing can be done about it.’

Through her heartbreak, Lyndsey hopes to spread the message about the importance of recognizing the symptoms of sepsis: severe pain, high fever, fast heart rate, confusion and lethargy.

She said: ‘It’s devastating, but if sharing my story can help save someone else then it’s worth it.’

Sepsis occurs when an infection such as blood poisoning causes a violent immune response, in which the body attacks its own organs.

It is the leading cause of preventable deaths, killing at least 44,000 people every year.