On January 4, 2026, our lives changed forever.
Our daughter, Lieke, died from sepsis. She was only two years old.
Lieke was a cheerful, loving, and curious little girl. She loved dancing, cuddling, playing outside, and discovering the world around her. She found joy in the smallest things and had a smile that could light up any room. To us, she was our greatest happiness.
Like every parent, we believed that if our daughter ever became seriously ill, modern healthcare would be able to help her.
We never imagined that we would lose her within just a few days.
On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025, Lieke became ill. At first, it seemed like the flu or a common viral infection—something many young children experience during the winter months.
But something didn't feel right.
On January 1, we sought medical attention. We returned to the general practitioner again on January 2, and once more on January 3. Every day we saw that Lieke was not getting better. Every day, as parents, we felt that something was wrong.
As a parent, you know your child.
You notice when their smile disappears.
You notice when they no longer behave like themselves.
And sometimes you simply can't explain it—you just know, deep down, that something is seriously wrong.
Unfortunately, the early symptoms of sepsis are often difficult to recognize. They closely resemble those of the flu or a common viral infection. That is exactly why sepsis is still diagnosed far too late, when every minute counts.
On January 4, we knew we had to seek help once again.
For the fourth time, we took Lieke to our general practitioner.
That was the moment everything changed.
Within minutes, it became clear how critically ill she was.
Less than two hours later, we had to say goodbye to our daughter.
She died from sepsis.
She was only two years old.
Less than a week earlier, we had celebrated Christmas together.
Less than five days earlier, we had welcomed the New Year as a family.
No parent ever expects life to change so completely in such a short period of time.
Until that day, we had never even heard of sepsis.
We didn't know how quickly it could become life-threatening.
We didn't know that every hour matters.
And we didn't know that sepsis affects millions of people worldwide every year and remains one of the leading causes of death across the globe.
Since losing Lieke, one question has stayed with us every single day.
What if we had known about sepsis sooner?
We will never know the answer.
But we do know one thing.
If we had known what sepsis was before January 4, we would have done everything in our power to make sure other families had that knowledge.
That is why we decided that Lieke's story could not end on the day she died.
On March 10, 2026, we founded the Voor Lieke Foundation.
Not because we had left our grief behind.
We never will.
But because we believed that Lieke's story could save lives.
Our mission is simple:
To make sure everyone knows what sepsis is.
Because recognizing sepsis saves lives.
Every day, we work to raise awareness among parents, healthcare professionals, schools, sports clubs, childcare organizations, businesses, and communities.
We provide education, develop awareness materials, organize campaigns, collaborate with healthcare organizations, and actively engage with the media.
Not because we want to keep telling our own story.
But because every family deserves to know the warning signs of sepsis before it is too late.
Our foundation was not created out of anger.
It was created out of love.
Love for our daughter.
And from the belief that no family should have to experience the unimaginable pain of losing a child because sepsis was not recognized in time.
We cannot bring Lieke back.
But perhaps her story can help save another child.
Perhaps her story will give a parent the confidence to trust their instincts.
Perhaps her story will encourage a healthcare professional to consider sepsis just a little earlier.
And perhaps her story will mean that another child is still alive tomorrow.
That is why we continue.
For Lieke.
For every parent.
For every child.
For greater awareness.
For earlier recognition.
For more lives.
Because recognizing sepsis saves lives.
The article above was written by Meran Bosgraaf, Lieke’s father, and is shared here with his explicit consent. The views in the article do not necessarily represent those of the Global Sepsis Alliance. They are not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The whole team here at the Global Sepsis Alliance and World Sepsis Day wishes to thank Meran and his wife for sharing Lieke’s story and for fighting to raise awareness for sepsis.
