Septic Shock, Swift Action—and a Second Chance.
Published June 4, 2025
Frances and Claude had been looking forward to their time away—a break from the pace of their hometown, Etobicoke. A few quiet days at their cottage in Port Severn were exactly what they needed.
The day before had been ordinary. Breakfast. A workout class. Then back to the cottage, tucked into Six Mile Lake’s quiet shores.
But early Thursday morning, Frances woke with a pain she couldn’t ignore. It radiated down her back and legs—sharp, relentless.
“I gave it an eight out of ten,” she said. “And I have a high pain tolerance.” Something felt very wrong.
By the next morning, Frances could barely stand. Her balance was off. The pain was spreading. And most alarmingly, she had lost control of her bodily functions. Her husband, Claude, didn’t hesitate—he called 911.
“I don’t think many cottagers realize that if something really bad happens, you’re not going back to the city. You’re coming to RVH—and thank goodness for that. The care Frances received was excellent. It saved her life.”
Claude Bagley
When paramedics arrived, Frances was confused, had a high fever, and her legs were mottled and purple. Suspecting a serious infection, they started IV antibiotics on the spot. There was no time to waste. Frances was rushed to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in Midland.
“This is the moment we started to see how the system of care works up here,” said Claude. “GBGH determined right away that Frances’ shoulder was infected and she needed to be transferred to RVH for emergency surgery.”
As the regional health centre for Simcoe Muskoka, RVH partners with community hospitals to deliver advanced, specialized care when it’s needed most, for Frances, RVH was the only hospital in the region equipped to handle a case like hers.
Within hours, Frances was on her way to RVH for emergency surgery. But she wasn’t out of the woods—not even close.
“I remember shivering, hallucinating—I couldn’t even speak. I was very scared,”
Frances Bagley
Frances was in septic shock—a life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention. Without treatment, the consequences are severe: organ failure and even death.
While Frances remembers little of what happened next, Claude watched as the RVH team sprang into action.
“Nurses jumped in with blankets, IVs were run, and antibiotics were prescribed. The entire process was so seamless,” he said. “We were so fortunate that Frances developed septic shock while at RVH.”
Within 20 minutes of treatment, Claude saw signs of improvement.
Recovery wasn’t easy. Frances had a second infection—osteomyelitis, in her bones. “I was in agony.”
She spent 14 days at RVH, followed by another week at GBGH. As second homeowners in the area, Frances and Claude were both surprised—and deeply grateful—for the level of care available so close to their cottage.
“RVH followed me every step of the way. Even after I left, my doctors would call me at home to see how I was doing. I never felt alone in my recovery.”
Frances Bagley, Grateful Patient
“I don’t think many cottagers realize that if something really bad happens, you’re not going back to the city,” said Claude. “You’re coming to RVH—and thank goodness for that. The care Frances received here was excellent. It saved her life.”
Today, Frances is still healing. She’s back to light exercise and slowly regaining strength.
What stands out most to her now isn’t just the emergency care—it’s everything that followed.
“RVH followed me every step of the way,” said Frances. “Even after I left, my doctors would call me at home to see how I was doing. I never felt alone in my recovery.”
For Frances and Claude, the experience left a lasting impression.
“RVH was there when it mattered most,” said Claude. “And they never stopped showing up.”
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