April 29, 2008;
It was six years ago tonight Mom and I heard the word , sepsis for the first time. We had never heard of it. Unfortunately none of the health care specialist seem to know anything about it either that were treating you in the hospital. We were told the next day when you left us, that confidentially, " there are lot's of Erins'!" We now know that a patient dies of sepsis every 2 1/2 minutes in the US alone! You actually died from medical malpractice from a failure to rescue. I get e-mails weekly about similar events. Patients and their families must be their own advocates!! Patients have to be aware that no one is safe from sepsis and can die from the most minor of infections if not treated promptly and aggressively!
Your Foundation will help change that through the Sepsis Alliance. My first attempt with your American Sepsis Alliance was a learning experience to see that lot's of people will help if they are compensated! The new entity has collaborative partners like , St. Petersburg College of Nursing, the Feinstein institute of Medical Research and the University of South Florida Infectious Disease Department and a BOD that care and are concerned about the #3 cause of death that no public agency is addressing.
When I met the bear hunter from Khamchatka, Russia, he said there were only 3 things in life important; family, health and education! WE MISS YOU!!
It is hard to write this tonight , but know that your younger brother, John is doing excellent at Notre Dame and is going into medicine. He will look after his patients!
Your sister, Jennifer is holding your memorial fishing tournament next week to raise monies for your Foundation that supports the Sepsis Alliance. She loves and misses you big time!
All your friend miss you also and they will remember Erin
Mom and I struggle everyday with your absence as you brought us so much joy and laughter!
God bless you sweetheart and pray for me as a large part of me died with you!
LOVE YOU , BUG!!
Your Dad!
PS: This was on a Google Blog Alert this AM: www.somethingtodiscover.blogspot.com
####### We miss you on Christmas Eve 2007 and You are doing wonders for Sepsis which never should have taken your life!
2008 will be a breakout year for your efforts! I will be keeping you updated as many good things are happening in your name! We will all Remember Erin!
I miss you so much as do all of us and so many other people that you have touched.
Your site was hacked, so we lost info but believe me , not a day goes by that your family does not think about you and all the other victims of sepsis and the fact that most is preventable!
Sepsis is the #3 cause death in the US and no one is tracking it. It may be the #2 or #3 cause of death world wide! You will alert them and your short life will have more significance than your young life! We love you and will carry on your work!!! |
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| WE MISS YOU, ERIN! |
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| ERIN was a victim of SEPTIC SHOCK!!!!!!!!!! |
| Every Parent Has Talked About It!
What would you do if you lost one of your children prematurely? And,,, And it was unnecessary ?
***** She was our Loving Daughter, a Sweet Young Bug and a Soul Mate of her Sister'!!!!! |
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| I use to lie down next to her just to hear her breath!! |
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Erin's " BUGS" Campaign", within her foundation is her own; " Battle Underway Getting Sepsis". She is currently the major financial supporter to sepsisalliance.org One of the organization's goals is to reduce the mortality and morbidity of sepsis. Another is to educate the public to empower them to advocate for prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment to effect a better outcome from a manageable infection!
Erin was a victim of sepsis, but also she was a victim of failure of the healthcare system. Her goal is to educate primarily the public but also the healthcare professionals about the seriousness of ANY infection. A person can die from sepsis from any kind of infection, including things like paper cuts and diaper rashes which does not seem possible. Let no infection go untreated!!! We all have to do a better job. 25 people die every hour from sepsis and no one is even keeping track of it!
And if you do survive you can lose your hands and feet or your legs! This is real serious stuff! Get informed. You can call me on my cell anytime, if in crisis. Carl Flatley : 727-460-7765. I'm neither a physician or sepsis expert, but I now know some really knowledgeable people concerning sepsis.
It should be noted that you have a 4x greater chance of dying in the hospital from sepsis, then getting killed in a car accident. AND, AND. think how much we worry about our children in cars! Yet, we take them to the hospital witout another thought! TRUST BUT VERIFY!!!
Erin's legacy will live on far after you and I are alive! Her Brother and Sister will carry on her Foundation and Spirit!!! We Love and Miss Her!!! You would have loved her also! |
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| Her Mother says Erin was one of the funniest people she had ever met. She was a breath of fresh air to the daily hassles. We miss her the same way any parent would. It is terrible! The Valones gave us a rose bush to put near her Memorial Site in the back yard. The pain is terrible, but all the support keeps us going! SHE WAS OUR GEORGIA PEACH< AS YOUR OWN CHILD WOULD BE FOR YOU. THEY ARE YOU! |
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| Thank you, Mr. Jim Miller from Chicago and the DiSalvo family for the memorial stones. They are near the pool where the kids and your daughter Jenny always hung out. We made a memorial garden as part of our living tribute at the house. It provides quality time to reflect on the joy she brought all of us. Dr. Marosky and Lisa gave us a "FLY Stone" also. |
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This site gives her many friends and extended family an avenue to stay connected with Erin and learn about sepsis, SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN , (WHEN IT IS PREVENTABLE) , to one of their children or a loved one. Losing a child is not the Order of the Universe. It seems unbelievable but there is not a state that even records the number of sepsis deaths. That is approximately 215,000 people a year and probably more that die and we are not even keeping score! If we don't even know the extent of the problem and the public is unaware, how will we ever force the powers that be to take action. What victims families are told is; the patient died of complications of the precipitating disease. Sepsis deaths can be reduced if diagnosed early and the appropriate preventative measures are taken. Methods and drugs are available to help, if action is prompt.
The American Sepsis Alliance is dedicated to raise awareness, so victims and family members recognize the early signs and symptoms and participate to see that appropriate and timely action is taken. We as a family were unaware as to these symptoms. AT NO TIME WERE WE TOLD SHE HAD AN INFECTION TILL & HOURS BEFORE SHE DIED! DON"T LEAVE THE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES TO OTHERS WITHOUT YOU BEING TOTALLY EDUCATED AND INVOLVED! Find out if they have an infection, what is their white blood cell count and their blood pressure. You have a right to be informed! Ask questions and take notes. See what medications they are given and at what dose!
Please send any personal stories, pertinent websites, or information on personal experiences to flatc41@aol.com
You also can leave messages on Erins' Guest Book anonomously. Any confidential mail should go to this address also. We have already gathered information that will be of interest to all when we can release it.
IT HAS TO GET EASIER!: It is now almost 4 years later and the loss is incedible. It has altered our families chemistry and how we function. It is like day and night without her!!!
After a lose of this magnitude; there are no GOOD DAYS; just BAD DAYS and WORSE ONES. We appreciate all the support we have recieved. Like us, her brother and sister still struggling also. Thank you for helping.
We know in our hearts, and because we have more life experiences, that over time the devastating waves of sorrow will be farther apart. We encourage Erin's friends to trust us on that. We are counting on it ourselves. If you feel overwelmed where it is effecting your own lifes work or health, Please talk with us. We can arrange mutual counseling. Erin loved all of you all !!!! She would want you to party on and enjoy your families.
SHE WAS SPECIAL!!
Through out this site, I have used material from a book by BARBARA D. ROSOF entitled : THE WORST LOSS - How Families Heal from the Death of a Child. We Pray that it is not a Must Read for you! It continues to help me! IT IS A TERRIFIC BOOK
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