In 2009, Jeff Almer was preparing to speak before a congressional hearing.

He was there because of his mother, Shirley May.

Jeff grew up in Minnesota, he's one of five kids.

In 2008, his mom Shirley May was recovering from cancer.

It had started in her lungs and then moved to her brain.

She had some struggles, but she effectively beat cancer twice a couple years in a row.

She was doing well, but around Thanksgiving, Shirley started to feel ill again.

But this time, the cause was something easily treatable, a urinary tract infection.

She was expected to be all better by Christmas.

But the week before, the doctors informed Jeff and the siblings that his mother had sepsis.

It's a potentially life-threatening condition brought on by your body working really hard to fight an infection.

And in the process, hurting itself.

And we thought that was really unusual.

And they had to bring her back to the hospital from the rehab.

Shirley's kids were all taking turns coming to sit with her.

They still expected her to be home in time for the holidays.

That weekend, Jeff didn't hear from his sister one day.

They had agreed to only call if it was bad news.

So Jeff was feeling optimistic.

But then, he did get a call.

And my sister called me that morning.

And I was stunned to hear that the doctors didn't expect her to last that day.

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