Burnley women's team manager Jackie Bachteler has shared the harrowing details of her battle with sepsis, an illness that nearly claimed her life and forced her to relearn basic motor functions.
Bachteler, who returned to her coaching role in July after nine months away, described the intense fear she experienced. "I thought I was going to die," she stated, recalling the severity of her condition.
The Sepsis Scare
The ordeal began with a sepsis scare that led to a critical hospital stay. Bachteler credits the club doctors at Burnley with saving her life and initiating her connection with a respiratory specialist. The National Health Service (NHS) has also been instrumental in her recovery.
Her condition was so severe that upon admission to the hospital, she had lost a significant amount of weight. "When my wife was able to see me [in hospital], she just started crying because of the amount of weight I lost," Bachteler recounted. Her physical deterioration was stark, moving from an athletic and fit state to an inability to walk unassisted. "I'm really athletic and I'm really fit, but then I wasn't able to walk. She had to hold me up going down the stairs."
Lingering Effects and Recovery
Even as she returned to managing the team, Bachteler continues to experience the debilitating effects of post-sepsis syndrome. This condition causes symptoms such as dizzy spells, extreme fatigue, mental fog, memory loss, and trembling when she becomes exhausted.
A recent incident during a hot pre-season friendly highlighted the ongoing challenges. Bachteler described becoming intensely dizzy, comparing the sensation to the disorientation after consuming too much alcohol. "It was so hot with the sun facing the bench. I got up in the second half and it was like when you have too much wine, you get up and you're like, 'woah!'" she said. The episode was so severe she sought refuge in a freezer on the site and began to cry as her nervous system, still recovering, struggled to cope.
Her family, who traveled from the U.S. to see her, were deeply affected by her condition. Bachteler recalled a specific instance in May when extreme dizziness forced her to leave a restaurant during a family meal. "We went for Sunday dinner and it was loud. I just got so dizzy and they could see it. As we were walking back, I was shaking and I didn't know where I was," she said. The emotional toll on her parents was evident, as they began to cry, a moment Bachteler finds difficult to discuss.
Despite these ongoing struggles, Bachteler expressed optimism about her progress. "I'm definitely in a good way though. I'm about 70 to 80% Jackie again and that's thanks to the club, the doctors here and the NHS - but it was close," she stated. She continues to undergo respiratory therapy to improve her lung function, a necessary component of her recovery.
Bachteler acknowledged the immense support she has received from Burnley, describing the club doctors as having "saved her life." She also praised her coaching staff as "phenomenal" for their assistance in delegating tasks. The messages of support from players have also been a source of encouragement throughout her challenging journey back to health and her managerial duties.