Earlier today, I posted a birthday remembrance for Grace Adelia Ibbotson, Sayville High Class of 1938. Grace was a very popular young lady who tragically died at age 21 in 1939.

Her obituary (which I also posted at her memorial page) prompted a few questions regarding how Grace could have died from what was originally diagnosed as a non-fatal trauma induced knee injury. In answer to your inquiries, bear in mind that quite some time following the car accident/knee trauma, Grace’s leg was surgically amputated.

This was 1939 and as such, I suspect Grace’s death was likely due to septic shock, complicated by organ dysfunction, secondary to the original wound trauma from the accident.

The first septic shock management strategy wasn’t developed until the 1960’s. The first sepsis conference was held to address the lack of consensus regarding the definition of sepsis in 1991.

Over the past century, tremendous strides have been made in diagnosis, clinical management and treatment of events that contribute to organ system dysfunction. Mortality rates have greatly dropped, but that is not enough… mortality rates from septicemia still remain high.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63999770/grace-adelia-ibbotson