Rory Staunton
By Irish Echo Staff
The foundation named after Rory Staunton has a new name. But the goal is the same: to combat the scourge of sepsis.
The Rory Staunton Foundation, headed by Rory's parents Ciaran and Orlaith, has announced that the foundation will now be officially known as "END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton."
"This new identity will better represent the expanded scope of our work and the remarkable coalition of families, policymakers, clinicians, academics, and executives who have brought their commitment, expertise, and passion to our shared mission," said a statement from Orlaith and Ciaran Staunton.
Rory, whose short life was lived in Queens, New York, died in April, 20102 at age 12 after sepsis was diagnosed only at a point when treatment had no effect.
He had contracted the infection from a seemingly innocuous cut sustained in his school gym. Four days later, Rory was dead as a result of septic shock.
This despite the fact that he was admitted to a hospital in a city that boasts the very highest level of medical treatment anywhere in the world.
Sepsis has been described as the leading cause of death of people admitted to hospital. It results from the body’s immune system reacting to infection to such a high degree that the result is toxic shock.
Said the Stauntons in their release: "We established our foundation shortly after Rory’s death, guided by his spirit and determined that no other family should experience the needless loss of a loved one to sepsis.
"Eight years later, as a result of our work, the landscape has changed dramatically. The passage of Rory’s Regulations in New York and the resulting decline in sepsis deaths has placed a new focus on the value of protocols. 43 million Americans are now protected by sepsis regulations. The wealth of invaluable data gathered in New York continues to expand our understanding of the importance of early identification and appropriate treatment of sepsis.
"And the increase in media coverage, legislation, public awareness campaigns, and educational tools have drastically increased sepsis awareness among healthcare professionals, parents, teachers, policymakers, and the broader community.
"END SEPSIS is our commitment to ensuring that the lives lost to sepsis are honored with action. And there remains much to be done. While we will continue to bring sepsis protocols to all U.S. states, engage the federal government for improved leadership on the crisis, and ensure that all Americans are aware of the signs and dangers of sepsis, we will also engage in the new threats posed by COVID-19. More people than ever are being gravely harmed by infection. It is our duty to be part of the solution."
More at www.endsepsis.org.
