03/13/2026
Mary B. Rutherford was a loving mother whose sudden cancer diagnosis in 2009 began an overwhelming journey for her and her daughters. While settling into a rehabilitation center, a small red spot on her leg quickly developed into a severe infection that led to sepsis. Despite swift medical care, her condition worsened rapidly, and she passed away on April 8, 2009. Her daughter later learned how cellulitis had progressed to sepsis and now shares her story to help others recognize the danger of infections. She honors her mom each September during Sepsis Awareness Month by raising awareness in her memory. Read Mary’s story: sepsis.org/faces/mary-rutherford/