Sepsis: A Patient’s Perspective — Kimora Branch

Kimora Branch never imagined a routine illness could nearly cost her life. As a college student living in a dorm, she came down with strep throat and pneumonia — conditions she had experienced before. This time, however, the symptoms were far more severe and alarming. “It would take me half an hour just to push myself out of bed to go to the bathroom,” Kimora recalled. “My ribs ached from coughing so violently. I couldn’t sleep more than 30 minutes at a stretch without waking up drenched in sweat or shivering uncontrollably.”

Her fatigue was overwhelming, and even basic tasks became monumental challenges. Chores she normally handled without thinking, like carrying groceries or drinks, became nearly impossible. On one occasion, when she ran out of beverages in her dorm, she ordered two smoothies — knowing she wouldn’t be able to carry anything heavier upstairs. By the time she returned, she nearly lost consciousness. “I had to practically crawl back to my room,” she said.

Initially, Kimora sought care at her university’s Student Health Center. She was prescribed a short course of antibiotics and sent home. But her symptoms only worsened. Concerned, her mother, a former nurse, urged her to get additional treatment, warning that the prescribed medication might not be sufficient. Attempts to speak directly with a doctor initially met with resistance. “I truly felt at my lowest,” Kimora said. “I kept telling them I was getting worse, not better. I didn’t feel like anyone was really listening.”

Eventually, she sought care at a hospital emergency room. There, the attending physician delivered a sobering warning: “I don’t want to scare you, but you could die.” Within hours, Kimora was admitted and diagnosed with sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, this abnormal response triggers widespread inflammation, which can lead to organ failure and, in severe cases, death. When sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically, making the condition even more dangerous. “Sepsis is basically your body going haywire because of an infection — overreacting or sometimes underreacting,” Kimora explained. “It’s scary because it can happen from practically any infection.”

Despite the severity of her illness, she admitted she didn’t understand the danger at the time. “I didn’t even know what sepsis was until I was in the hospital,” she said.

Even after her discharge, Kimora’s struggles continued. She was later diagnosed with post-sepsis syndrome, a condition characterized by lingering complications such as chronic fatigue, persistent pain, cognitive challenges and emotional strain. “The reason I went to the hospital was sepsis, and I almost lost my life,” she said. “A year later, I was still dealing with the aftermath. It’s been a long road, and in many ways, my battle with this infection isn’t over yet.”

Motivated by her experience, Kimora turned survival into advocacy. She founded SHINE, the nation’s first collegiate sepsis awareness club at the University of Alabama. The organization’s mission is to educate students and the wider community about the signs, risks and long-term impacts of sepsis. Through SHINE, she partners with campus groups to deliver educational presentations, host awareness events and support fundraising initiatives for the Sepsis Alliance. The club also leverages social media to reach beyond the campus community. “We get a lot of ‘What even is sepsis?’ moments,” Kimora said. “If someone Googles it after seeing our page, that’s already a step toward saving lives.”

Her advocacy work has even taken her to Capitol Hill, where she met families who lost loved ones to sepsis, including the father of a 4-year-old girl who died within hours of diagnosis. “Over 300,000 people die from sepsis every year,” Kimora noted. “They can’t speak for themselves. I’m fortunate to have survived and to use my voice for those who can’t.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand SHINE nationwide. “My long-term goal is to have a chapter in every state,” she said. “It’s an ambitious mission, but it’s absolutely necessary.”

At the heart of her advocacy is a simple belief: Education can save lives. “Just knowing what sepsis is and talking about it can make all the difference,” Kimora said. “I believe five minutes of education can stick with someone forever — and those five minutes could be the difference between life and death.”

Through her journey from patient to advocate, Kimora embodies resilience and purpose. Her story is a stark reminder of how quickly common illnesses can become life-threatening — and how awareness and action can make a profound difference.