My father almost died going into septic shock. That harrowing experience was an unwelcome education into a disease that many people don't understand. Sepsis kills around 258,000 people each year in the United States, hitting the most vulnerable among us. The only way to fight back is with education and prevention. Let's start.

A survey cited by the Sepsis Alliance finds that 45 percent of American adults have never heard of the word sepsis, yet the disease is the third-leading cause of death in the United States.

Sepsis causes more deaths than diabetes and strokes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We sat in silence. There was nothing to say or do but wait, watch and hope. The beeps from the machines and monitors keeping my father alive in the ICU went off intermittently, cutting through the sterile fog.

When the doctor came in, his face was grim, his voice soft. The diagnosis was sepsis: an aggressive infection that had turned toxic in my father’s body due to a compromised immune system from cancer treatments -- that, combined with severely low blood pressure, sent him into shock. Organs began to shut down, and my father needed a respirator to breathe as the intensivist placed him in a medically-induced coma. If his white blood cell count did not come down soon, my father would not last the night.

There was a killer in the room that we barely knew. But my family wasn’t alone. Not too many people really understand what it is. Patients with severe sepsis (or who go into septic shock like my dad did) have a mortality rate of 40-60 percent. It often strikes children, the sick and the elderly. It is also the number one cost of hospitalization in the U.S., at a price tag of $24 billion.

Now for some good news. You can beat this killer with information and prevention. Early diagnosis can prevent as many as 80 percent of deaths. September is Sepsis Awareness Month, which is a good opportunity to learn about the symptoms, so you and your loved ones can stay healthy.

My dad’s a fighter. After a week in that medically-induced coma, receiving heavy-duty antibiotics, he woke up, sat up, talked to us and began his recovery. There is still a long road ahead in many ways, and the aftereffects of sepsis include memory loss, depression and the risk of more deadly infections. But we are grateful for another day. Always.

Sepsis, what can we do?

We can't always control health crises, but knowledge gives us power. When it comes to sepsis, just a little information can go a long way in saving lives.

  • September is Septic Awareness Month, so now is a good time to begin the learning process. Start with Sepsis Basics published by the CDC and with Sepsis.org
  • Contribute to leading organizations conducting research: Sepsis often occurs in people who have compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients. Read about the strides being made in the field of cancer immunotherapy by Dr. Gary Gilliland from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
  • Get familiar with local organizations working on research, awareness and support groups, start your search at Giving Compass.