Love for Lochlin: 2023 Erin K Flatley Spirit Award Winner

Sepsis Alliance is pleased to announce that Love for Lochlin, a foundation established by William and Brooke DeSantis, is the recipient of the 2023 Erin K. Flatley Spirit Award. Erin, the daughter of Sepsis Alliance founder Carl Flatley, died in 2002 of sepsis when she was 23. The award recognizes outstanding dedication, sacrifice, and contribution of people or organizations that work to improve the care and lives of patients with sepsis. Sepsis Alliance believes that William and Brooke, and the foundation, exemplify the meaning of the award.

On a Friday in January 2020, Lochlin DeSantis, a happy and healthy 5-year-old, came down with a low-grade fever and body aches. Sunday night, his mother Brooke brought him to a local urgent care clinic where Lochlin was diagnosed with influenza (flu). Monday afternoon, Lochlin died from sepsis. He left behind two brothers – one older and one younger – and his devastated parents. “Before Lochlin passed away, I didn’t know you could get sepsis from the flu,” William said. “I thought you got it from a cut on your hand, and it goes septic. I didn’t know you could get it from an infectious disease, like the flu.”

Lochlin was the fourth child to die from influenza in the community that flu season. The first child, the son of a local firefighter, died on December 2, 2019. Within four weeks, nine children, including Lochlin, had died because of the virus. None of the children had received their flu vaccine because the county had run out.

“Lochlin was very kind and caring,” Brooke said. “There wasn’t any person he couldn’t bring a smile to their face. He was a jokester.” William added that Lochlin was the kind of child who could go up to anyone to say hi and start a conversation. “He wasn’t shy at all.”

Not long after Lochlin’s death, the DeSantises established Love for Lochlin. They wanted to ensure that no one fell through the cracks, Brooke said. “We could have saved those nine children, including our son, with a flu vaccine.”

She explained that people who have state insurance – if they qualify – are eligible for the vaccine through the health department. However, the foundation learned that many families don’t qualify, so they would have to pay out of pocket for the vaccines. “Most can’t afford it,” Brooke said. “This is where we help to fit the biggest gap. We meet those where they are.”

The foundation provides resources, such as Clorox, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, COVID-19 testing kits, adult and pediatric masks, as well as influenza vaccines to whoever needs them. They also go where they are needed. “We work with the Frederick County Fire and Rescue to see that our home-bound patients are able to receive their vaccines also,” Brooke explained.

Although Brooke spends her days running Love for Lochlin, she takes no salary. All funds raised go directly to the foundation so that they can do more work. “Me paying myself is not worth another’s life,” she explained.

Sepsis Alliance is proud to include Love for Lochlin and the DeSantis family in its select group of Erin K. Flatley Spirit Award recipients.

To view previous award winners, click here.