An overview of the “new normal” and a rise of high profile cases
Daveigh Chase (35), is the latest celebrity to have a blood infection go septic. A growing trend that rarely effected stars in the past.
When someone gets sepsis, it is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to an infection. Symptoms may include fast breathing, fever, confusion, severe pain, and discolored skin. If not treated quickly, sepsis can lead to septic shock, organ failure, or death. Treatment for sepsis requires immediate hospitalization, where patients typically receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics and may need to be placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) for close monitoring and specialized care. Early treatment significantly improves the chances of survival.
– The Mayo Clinic Online
| Celebrity | Country/industry | Year | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Cordero | Canada / Broadway-Hollywood | 2020 | Died | COVID-19 complications included lung infections and septic shock. |
| Tanya Roberts | Hollywood/U.S. | 2021 | Died | UTI reportedly led to sepsis. |
| Madonna | Hollywood/U.S. | 2023 | Survived scare | Hospitalized with bacterial infection later described as sepsis; ventilator/induced coma reported. |
| Oti Mabuse | U.K. TV / Strictly | 2023 | Survived scare | Developed sepsis around traumatic premature birth. |
| Ashley Park | Hollywood/U.S. | 2024 | Survived scare | Tonsillitis developed into critical septic shock. |
| Erin Bates | U.S. reality TV | 2025 | Survived scare | Severe UTI/kidney infection led to septic shock after childbirth. |
| Perez Hilton | Hollywood/U.S. media | 2026 | Survived scare | Said he was hospitalized 21 days with sepsis. |
| Billy Ray Cyrus | Hollywood/U.S. music | 2024 case, revealed 2026 | Survived scare | Said he nearly died from sepsis in 2024. |
Deaths
| Athlete | Sport | Country | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Williams | NFL (Buccaneers, Bills) | U.S. | 2023 | Died from bacterial sepsis traced to a dental infection. |
| Kyle Busch | NASCAR | U.S. | 2026 | Died after severe pneumonia progressed to sepsis. |
Survived / Near-Fatal Sepsis Cases
| Athlete | Sport | Country | Year Publicized | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Coleman | Bodybuilding (8× Mr. Olympia) | U.S. | 2025 | Hospitalized with sepsis; said it nearly killed him. |
| Steve McMichael | NFL Hall of Famer | U.S. | 2023 | ICU treatment for sepsis while battling ALS; recovered from the infection. |
| Andrew Strawbridge | Rugby coach (England) | U.K./NZ | Story widely reported 2024 | Said he was resuscitated three times during a severe sepsis episode. |
| Brooke Aspin | Professional footballer | U.K. | 2024 | Hospitalized with sepsis and recovered. |
Julie Powell (U.S. author, known for Julie & Julia) — died in 2022; reports cited cardiac arrest with sepsis listed among contributing factors. Tim Lobinger (Germany, Olympic pole vaulter and TV personality) — suffered sepsis complications during cancer treatment before his death in 2023. Marianne Faithfull (U.K. singer and actress) — experienced sepsis during serious health complications that were publicly discussed in recent years. Mandy Smith (U.K. television personality/model) — publicly disclosed a life-threatening sepsis episode. Jason Watkins’ family advocacy (U.K. actor) — while not personally affected, his family’s high-profile sepsis campaign generated substantial media attention following the death of his daughter from sepsis; often appears in sepsis-related public-figure reporting.
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of these stories is not that sepsis exists—it’s that it appears to be showing up in places where many people assumed modern medicine had largely neutralized the threat. Sepsis has long been associated in the public imagination with battlefield medicine, developing nations, or rare hospital complications. Yet in recent years, the headlines have told a different story: actors, athletes, politicians, musicians, and business leaders in some of the world’s wealthiest countries in health conscious industries have found themselves fighting for their lives against a condition that can turn deadly within hours.
What is clear is that sepsis is no longer a distant or obscure medical term. It is a growing part of the public conversation, and one that serves as a reminder that even in an era of advanced technology and sophisticated healthcare, some of the oldest threats remain among the most dangerous. The question is not whether sepsis deserves our attention. The question is why it appears to be demanding so much more of it now.
Mixed Media Magazine 