Hannah Wilden’s story is one of heartache and resilience. In September 2025, she thought she was coming down with the flu, feeling run-down and battling stomach pains. But when her symptoms worsened, with chest pains and difficulty walking, her parents rushed her to A&E. Doctors discovered that a ruptured ovarian cyst had sent Hannah’s body into septic shock, and she underwent life-saving surgery.
Just as Hannah began to heal, she noticed her 14-year-old Labrador, Gem, shivering with an all-too-familiar “deathly smell.” Tragically, Gem was diagnosed with sepsis from an infected uterus only days after Hannah’s own ordeal and sadly passed away.
Hannah, now on the mend, is advocating for sepsis awareness, a condition that shows symptoms eerily similar to the flu—like shivering—that can take hold swiftly and fatally. Her experience illustrates that sepsis doesn’t discriminate between humans or animals.
She urges everyone to familiarise themselves with the symptoms: slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine output, severe breathlessness, and mottled skin. Awareness can save lives, and asking “Could it be sepsis?” might be a crucial question for anyone feeling unwell.
Hannah’s journey through this ordeal is a testament to the fragility of life and the importance of understanding this silent killer. Let’s spread the word about sepsis—your awareness could make all the difference. Stay vigilant, ask questions, and trust your instincts!
