Martin Memorial Raising Sepsis Awareness

True West Campground in Jamestown is hosting a weekend-long memorial to raise awareness about Sepsis.

Owner Shawn Martin passed away in 2021 from Sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection or injury. Shawn Martin’s Wife, Donna Martin said she is raising awareness as Sepsis is dangerous to anyone.

“It will do anything and everything it can to stop that infection,” Martin said. “You can not stop it on your own without severe antibiotics. You have to have antibiotics intervene and you need to be in the hospital, so this is why we have the memorial and it’s to raise awareness so we can save a life for someone else when I couldn’t save Shawn’s.”

Symptoms of Sepsis are dizziness, nausea, high heart rate, and high blood pressure. Martin said Shawn had a tooth infection that caused Sepsis and they both did not realize it until she read about it online and at that point, it was too late.

“It was hard knowing in the end that had I known or had he known he may be here today,” Martin said. “There’s so many factors that came into play that we could have saved him.”

Martin said the memorial will involve a memorial horseback riding, potluck, horse racing, and music. Martin said longtime campers will be at the event to show their support.

“Most times it’s our campers that we had when we owned the campground,” Martin said. “There may be some new campers as well, so it’s kind of like a reunion in a way. My daughter actually worked for us as well at the campground and one of the things we miss the most is the people we used to deal with.”

Martin said over 300,000 people die of Sepsis every year. Martin said all the proceeds from the memorial will go to Sepsis Alliance.