Caitlin Alsop

Sepsis Survivor

Caitlin Alsop is a passionate advocate for sepsis awareness who’s my encounter with sepsis “was a medical mystery” like many others who have suffered sepsis, it can be an elusive disease with devastating consequences. Caitlin had seen multiple GP’s about cold symptoms and a rash that then appeared on her face and that evening she felt like she had bitten her tongue. It became swollen making it harder to breathe and difficult to swallow. At the hospital, she was treated for anaphylaxis, but her condition deteriorated with a mottled blue and red rash spread across the top half of her body. Caitlin was admitted to ICU for full life support where she stayed in a coma for nine days. The diagnosis was Ludwig’s angina, from an unknown impacted wisdom tooth, leading to sepsis. The rash burnt the top half of her body and blackened her tongue with talks of amputation. Following surgery, drainage and an extended stay in ICU and hospital, Caitlin is incredibly grateful to be alive and determined to make a difference. Caitlin shares her story all over the world, participate in and host charity events for the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and work with medical professionals to improve the coordination of care for patients who have experienced critical illness. She has collaborated on awareness activities with the Global Sepsis Alliance World Sepsis Day, US Sepsis Alliance and Australian Sepsis Network Consumer Advocacy Group. Through sharing her story, Caitlin hopes to help survivors with their own recovery and scars after critical illness and return to a meaningful high quality of life.