Burnley manager Jackie Bachteler will be in the dugout at Turf Moor on Sunday for the first time - but nine months ago she was fighting for her life. The American joined the club in December to work with the women's first team and men's academy, full of excitement for the next step in her coaching career. But three weeks later, Bachteler was rushed to A&E and diagnosed with sepsis - a life-threatening illness that left her bedridden for days.
It took her months to recover and she still suffers from regular post-sepsis symptoms today, but it has given 37-year-old Bachteler a new perspective on life. When Burnley host Sunderland in the Women's Super League 2 on Sunday ( ), Bachteler will reflect on her journey as it coincides with World Sepsis Day. This is her story and why she feels it is important to share it.
Find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed Bachteler moved from San Diego to join Burnley's coaching staff in December 2025 and after a few weeks she thought jet lag and a busy schedule had led to a common cold. But she walked into the training ground one morning and "the whole room spun". She tried to get fresh air but was struggling to breathe.
She instantly knew something was wrong and called for a club doctor. The men's team doctor was on site and checked her over. Her blood pressure dropped quickly and her oxygen levels were really low.
She was immediately rushed to hospital and Bachteler feared the worst. "To be honest, I thought I was going to die. I just had this feeling in my body like 'this is it'.
I knew something was wrong," Bachteler told BBC Sport. "They gave me some treatment for my lungs and then they tried to send me home, but I knew something wasn't right and asked them to do more. "They checked my blood pressure and it just plummeted.
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