Brea Kunstler

After experiencing three pregnancy losses within eleven months, Brea and her husband turned to IVF in 2023. During her second cycle, what was expected to be a routine egg collection led to a life-threatening complication. She contracted a group A streptococcal infection, which rapidly progressed to sepsis.

Initially mistaken for a common IVF-related condition, her symptoms worsened significantly over 48 hours, leading to emergency hospital admission. She was placed on life support and underwent urgent surgery to control the infection. Thanks to timely intervention and critical care, she survived.

Her recovery involved over a week in the hospital, followed by months of physical and psychological rehabilitation. She experienced post-sepsis syndrome, including fatigue, brain fog, and cardiovascular complications, requiring ongoing specialist care.

This experience profoundly shifted her perspective—moving her focus from loss to gratitude for her family and health. Two months after her recovery, she conceived naturally and, in March 2024, gave birth to a healthy son.

She now shares her story to raise awareness of sepsis and the importance of early recognition and treatment.