Rory Staunton was born in 1999 in Queens, New York. He was captain of the debate team and an advocate for non-discrimination.
At the age of 12, Rory got a scrape on his arm during a school basketball game. As the day went on, his temperature increased and he felt weaker and weaker. His parents brought him to his pediatrician who failed to recognize the signs of sepsis, which is one of the most deadly infections in the world. However, it's an infection of which many people are unaware.
Rory's doctor sent him to the emergency room where, once again, the hospital staff missed several symptoms of sepsis. They took his vitals and read his blood tests, missing the fact his white blood cell count was sky high.
Rory was sent home where his condition only worsened. When his nose turned black and toes turned cold, his parents rushed him back to the hospital — but it was too late.
Rory passed away on April 1, 2012. It was reported that the word "sepsis" was never uttered once during his treatment.
Thus began the Staunton family's tireless effort to warn parents about the largely curable yet life-threatening disease — and Rory's tragic passing ultimately created a nationwide movement.
