Member-only story
Don’t Take Your Immune System For Granted
It’s a lifesaver!
“Alexander Fleming (1881–1955) was a scientist who discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, and whose work helped treat sepsis. Fleming’s experiences treating soldiers with infected wounds during World War I inspired his research into antibiotics.”
I grew up in a small Scottish village next door to the village in which Dr. Fleming grew up— but in a different era, of course.
Interestingly, his work helped treat sepsis.
And all these years later, my husband died of sepsis.
After his recent death, I was consumed with a myriad of unanswered questions, despite his medical team asking me, at the time, if I realized how gravely ill he was.
They could have answered so much, had I been in a state to ask questions, but I was in shock. I doubt I posed any.
I did know he was very ill. When he called me to our bedroom where he’d gone to lie down, I had a hunch something serious was wrong. His hands were palm-side up on his pillow, his fists clenched.
I sensed he was in shock and called the ambulance.
It took a second call for them to respond as an emergency. Fortunately, they were less than a few minutes away.
