{"id":93523,"date":"2026-09-16T11:07:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T17:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=93523"},"modified":"2026-09-16T11:07:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T17:07:31","slug":"steamboat-ironman-survives-sepsis-organ-failure-and-emergency-brain-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/steamboat-ironman-survives-sepsis-organ-failure-and-emergency-brain-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Steamboat Ironman survives sepsis, organ failure and emergency brain surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Erin
After a marathon recovery from cirrhosis of the liver and sepsis, Eric Gautreaux hopes to run Steamboat Springs\u2019 50-mile Run Rabbit Run ultramarathon in September 2027. Photo by Sonya Doctorian, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Eric Gautreaux signed up for his first Ironman Triathlon in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2005, he was 29 and entering uncharted territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a novel competition for me,\u201d said Eric, now 49. \u201cThat\u2019s what made it appealing. I may be slow, but I can go all day. It\u2019s one foot in front of the other, and keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

He feels strongest during the 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike portions of the race. The final 26.2-mile running component? He contends he\u2019s \u201cfar from an elite runner, and still am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven Ironman finisher medals have hung around his neck. He earned his most recent medal in 2019 at Lake Placid in New York.<\/p>\n

One could argue that in 2023, Eric completed a different sort of Ironman, a grueling health ordeal that required him to keep going and going.<\/p>\n

First, he had to be hospitalized for several days at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center<\/a> where he was diagnosed with sepsis and liver disease. Then doctors transferred him for 10 days of care at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies<\/a> for sepsis, liver failure and kidney failure, and finally, 22 days at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a>, where Eric underwent an emergency craniotomy and subsequent recovery.<\/p>\n

And rather than a finisher\u2019s medal after all of that, in April 2026, Eric added the removal of not one, but three abdominal hernias to his challenging healthcare experiences. His team of emergency medicine physicians, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, hematologists, surgeons and countless support staff cheered him on throughout the ordeal, but none as loudly as his wife of 23 years, Christine, 48, and their sons, Abbott, 18, and Preston, 15.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric and Christine Gautreaux moved to Steamboat Springs from Texas in 2000. Both sons were born there. Left to right, Preston, Eric, Abbott and Christine Gautreaux at their home. Photo by Sonya Doctorian, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Building a life and starting a family in Colorado\u2019s mountains<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Eric and Christine grew up in Dallas, but after visiting the mountains in Colorado following their college graduations, they moved to the Yampa Valley in 2000.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Gautreaux hikes trails in and around Steamboat Springs. He and his family appreciate the access to the outdoors they have living in Steamboat. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe love the mountain way of life,\u201d Christine said. \u201cWe\u2019ve found our place in the community. Our boys were born here. Steamboat is a small town, yet we have access to a really nice facility.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like Cheers,<\/em> \u2018where everyone knows your name.\u2019 From the lab to CT scans or when you walk in for an appointment, they know you,\u201d Eric said. \u201cWhen the hospital flirted with the idea of joining UCHealth<\/a>, we didn\u2019t know if something like that might really change our entire town. It did \u2013 it made the town better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric and Christine both eventually landed jobs with the Steamboat Springs School District. Christine worked as a kindergarten, first grade and special education teacher over the years, while Eric worked with students who needed moderate to significant educational support.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes patience and advocacy,\u201d Eric said. \u201cThere\u2019s so much more behind every interaction. It\u2019s acknowledging there\u2019s a disability, taking that into consideration when there are behavioral concerns, and making sure the student and the parents get the support they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine said her husband has a great talent for supporting kids at schools.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Gautreaux family likes to hike at Rita Valentine Dog Park in town, which has a view of the ski runs at Steamboat Resort. Photo by Sonya Doctorian, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, the mountains that drew Eric and Christine to Steamboat Springs provided the perfect playground for their family.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tackled nine 14ers so far,\u201d Eric said. \u201cThis is the best place to raise kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbott said he\u2019s incredibly close with his dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re pretty tight,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWe joke. We\u2019re serious. We have a great relationship overall, except when he tells me to make up my room 12 times a day. He helped me get to the point I am right now, heading to college to play two sports. He\u2019s the best part of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

From an infection to sepsis to liver and kidney failure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With the whole family either attending schools or working in them, it\u2019s no surprise that each member of the Gautreaux family took their turn at getting sick during 2023. In late March, both Abbott and Preston developed strep throat.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric and his younger son, Preston, share a love of tennis. Preston Gautreaux is a sophomore this fall at Steamboat Springs High School and an active member of the tennis team. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cKids bounce back pretty quickly,\u201d Christine said. \u201cThey felt like themselves and were back to school after a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Eric developed a high fever, the family initially wondered whether he had contracted the same infection. But his fever didn\u2019t recede, and he started having chills, some confusion and even some slurred speech.<\/p>\n

Eric eventually went to the emergency department at Yampa Valley Medical Center. Unfortunately, he declined rapidly, and doctors diagnosed him with sepsis, a life-threatening condition that happens when the body\u2019s immune system has an extreme response to an infection, causing organ dysfunction.<\/p>\n

Doctors also diagnosed Eric with liver cirrhosis. His mother had dealt with a liver disease, which ultimately led to her having a liver transplant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer transplant, and her life before and after transplant, definitely came to the minds of everyone in our family with my diagnosis,\u201d Eric said. \u201cThey do believe there may be a genetic component involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric\u2019s medical team treated the sepsis and discharged Eric home with a peripherally inserted central catheter, or PICC line, to continue IV antibiotics. But in the days that followed, his liver, kidney and hemoglobin lab values continued to decline. He was in and out of the hospital over the next week.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere was a seemingly healthy Steamboat resident, enjoying all the town has to offer, and he\u2019s hit with major medical issues and hospitalizations,\u201d said Dr. Evan Hardesty<\/a>, a hospitalist<\/a> who, along with Dr. Gary Breen<\/a>, cared for Eric. \u201cHe was at a stage of life where his focus was on making family memories and enjoying life, but everything got completely derailed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"In
In May 2026, the Gautreaux family celebrated Abbott signing with Adams State University to play football and lacrosse. Abbott graduated from Steamboat Springs High School later that month. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During Eric\u2019s inpatient stays, Hardesty often consulted with specialists throughout UCHealth\u2019s network of hospitals via DocLine<\/a> to ensure he was getting the necessary level of care.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn situations where we don\u2019t have a local specialist available, we have access to specialists throughout UCHealth,\u201d Hardesty said. \u201cThat gives patients the assurance that when they walk through our doors, we will either address their needs locally, or we will speak to the right people and if necessary, transport to a higher level of care.\u201d<\/p>\n

That right person was Dr. James Burton<\/a>, medical director of liver transplantation at University of Colorado Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cEric had serious decompensation of his liver disease \u2013 jaundice, dangerously low sodium levels, fluid buildup in his abdomen (ascites) and confusion from hepatic encephalopathy, a complication of advanced liver disease,\u201d Burton said.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to mid-April. With his health again declining, Eric\u2019s medical team had to transfer him by air to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. His cirrhosis had severely decompensated; he had developed kidney failure, and once again, he was septic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got to Medical Center of the Rockies, my liver MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) score was 39, which indicated extremely severe liver disease and high risk of short-term mortality,\u201d Eric said later. \u201cI was also told, \u2018If we don\u2019t see improvement in the next 48 hours, there\u2019s nothing more we\u2019re able to do.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a palliative care consultation,\u201d Christine said. \u201cIt was that serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

But after the first night, all of Eric\u2019s organs showed slow improvement. He continued improving over the next 10 days. According to Eric, his care team was \u201ccautiously optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric improved enough to return home to Steamboat. But things still didn\u2019t seem right. Eric and Christine made an appointment for July 17 to have a liver transplant evaluation with Burton.<\/p>\n

What doctors discovered before a scheduled liver transplant evaluation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On July 16, Eric and Christine were preparing to drive to University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Campus in Aurora. But Eric couldn\u2019t get off the floor.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric and Christine Gautreax both work in education and are parents to two sons.\u00a0 Photo by Sonya Doctorian, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI knew something was really bad,\u201d Abbott said, \u201csomething wasn\u2019t right with his body. I remember the conversation with my mom. It was either drive to Anschutz at that moment or go to the ER in Steamboat immediately because he couldn\u2019t even stand up. I thought it was a stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbott and Christine got Eric in the car and raced to the hospital\u2019s emergency department.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt turns out we made the right decision to take him to the ER because he had a brain bleed,\u201d Abbott said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEric presented with clear unilateral weakness, raising immediate concern for a stroke or other neurological emergency. He was taken directly for a CT scan and within minutes of returning from imaging, he was accessed by a neurologist via telestroke technology<\/a>,\u201d said Dr. Laura Sehnert, the emergency medicine physician at Yampa Valley Medical Center who cared for Eric.<\/p>\n

Doctors discovered a large subdural hematoma with a midline shift in Eric\u2019s brain, which meant blood was pooling and pushing his brain tissue off center.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe immediately put plans in motion to fly him to University of Colorado Hospital, where preparations for emergency surgery were already under way,\u201d Sehnert said. \u201cThat rapid coordination between our local team, the flight team and the receiving surgical team was critical. It\u2019s what gave Eric the best possible opportunity for a positive outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. A. Samy Yousseff<\/a> led the surgical team and performed an emergency craniotomy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember getting the call while driving to Aurora: \u2018We got him,\u2019\u201d Christine said. \u201cIt mattered a lot that they took a brief moment to call and tell me that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbott said his dad\u2019s medical crisis was very scary.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s super stressful when your own father is flown out because something is wrong with his brain. My mom, brother and I talked out all scenarios just in case the worst-case scenario happened,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWe were still driving on I-70 when we got the call that everything was successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Grateful as hell:’ Family support helps fuel recovery after a medical crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Christine, Abbott and Preston made their way to the neurology ICU when they arrived at University of Colorado Hospital.<\/p>\n

\"Abbott
Abbott (left) and Preston (right) Gautreaux with their dad, Eric, following Eric\u2019s emergency craniotomy at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cA lot of kids and adults, thankfully, don\u2019t ever see a neuro ICU,\u201d Christine said. \u201cIt was hard, but we knew Eric was in the best hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbott said he was \u201cgrateful as hell\u201d rather than being in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no joke on that floor,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cMy dad\u2019s head was half shaved with stitches all over. Thank God for all the nurses and surgeons. I don\u2019t know what we would have done without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine appreciated the attentive care from the full medical team, including experts in Steamboat Springs who continued to check on Eric and his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith so much going on, sometimes we forget about the toll it takes on family members, so if we can provide any support to them through the medical process, it can be really beneficial for all,\u201d Hardesty said. \u201cI think the surprise and gravity of the situation and the more frequent visits and hospitalizations probably brought us all closer faster than a typical patient-provider relationship. Watching them all interact and seeing how much they cared for each other made me want to help keep that going in any way I could. Maintaining that strong family bond and support system can be really important for a patient\u2019s mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Gautreaux hiking. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eric focused on rehabilitation with \u201cmore amazing and kind medical professionals.\u201d After more than 20 days in the hospital \u2013 including Eric and Christine\u2019s 20th<\/sup> wedding anniversary \u2014 doctors discharged him. He concentrated on recovery through medication management and diet, gained his strength back and returned to the active lifestyle he loved.<\/p>\n

Doctors eventually evaluated Eric for a liver transplant, but his liver function improved enough that he didn\u2019t require placement on the liver transplant waiting list, something Burton says is \u201ca testament to his dedication to his health.\u201d<\/p>\n

But three years later, three abdominal hernias reared their ugly heads.<\/p>\n

A multidisciplinary team tackles three complex hernia repairs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think they were going to be able to touch them,\u201d Eric said of the hernias. \u201cMy liver had gotten better, and I was otherwise doing well. Don\u2019t mess with a good thing, right? But Dr. Burton said there was a surgeon, Dr. Paul Montero<\/a>, who was willing to repair one, maybe two of them. We didn\u2019t know if repairing all three was possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, the triple challenge of an Ironman competition enters the picture.<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric Gautreaux completed his first Ironman Triathlon in 2005 in Panama City Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEvery decision we make in the operating room incorporates a balance of risks and benefits,\u201d Montero said. \u201cGiven that his right inguinal hernia was making him fairly miserable, that was the target hernia to address. If that part of the case went well, and there were not clinical bleeding conditions, I would consider repairing the umbilical (belly button) hernia, and if that one went well, I would consider repairing the epigastric hernia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burton said the team\u2019s extensive work in advance of the surgery proved critical.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs his hepatologist, the key to making all three repairs possible was extensive preoperative optimization,\u201d Burton said. \u201cWe looked at his liver and kidney function, ensured his ascites was well controlled, coordinated closely with the surgical and anesthesia teams, and had contingency plans in place for complications. Eric\u2019s overall stability during the surgery is what allowed Dr. Montero to proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n

After surgery, the hepatology and surgical teams monitored Eric closely for what\u2019s known as hepatic decompensation and other postoperative complications.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first met Eric, I thought he was a very kind gentleman. I was almost overwhelmed with his sense of positivity,\u201d Montero said. \u201cLearning he was a special education teacher and ultra-marathoner, it made sense that his positivity is what fuels these awesome achievements. A positive attitude contributes greatly to one\u2019s health.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The Gautreaux family celebrated Senior Night with Abbott during the 2025 high school season. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A survivor\u2019s outlook: ‘I don\u2019t have to do this. I get to do this.’<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In so many areas of life, attitude can make or break what is in front of you.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mantra going into races is, \u2018I don\u2019t have to do this. I get to do this,\u2019\u201d Eric said. \u201cAs a Christian, I tell myself, \u2018I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.\u2019 As I baby-stepped my way into these events, I always told myself adversity is a privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Eric
Eric and Abbott Gautreaux celebrate a win for the Steamboat Springs High School football team. Photo courtesy of Eric Gautreaux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The number of health challenges Eric faced in three years is more than most people experience in a lifetime. Yet, every day, he stayed positive.<\/p>\n

Abbott praised his dad\u2019s great attitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven during rough times like these, he still has the same energy,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cWhat my dad went through made me appreciate family just a little more. Take nothing for granted and enjoy what\u2019s in front of you. He really is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).\u201d<\/p>\n

This fall, it\u2019s back to school for everyone. Eric and Christine will continue working for Colorado Connections Academy in special education. Preston will begin his sophomore year at Steamboat Springs High School with a tennis racket firmly in his hand. Abbott will head to college at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.<\/p>\n

The family will celebrate Eric\u2019s 50th<\/sup> birthday in October, possibly capping off his half-century year with the 50-mile Run Rabbit Run ultramarathon in September 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad I have my hiking partner back, which is a credit to literally everyone who cared for Eric,\u201d Christine said. \u201cNot only were they incredibly talented, competent and confident in their work, they remembered parts about our lives and our kids, details from stories we shared. It\u2019s a level of care we never knew we\u2019d experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur small town got me access to the best medical facility, meals showed up at our house, students called and checked on me,\u201d Eric said. \u201cWhen we moved to Steamboat, we knew it was a great community. We just didn\u2019t know to what extent it was great until we went through this.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Eric Gautreaux signed up for his first Ironman Triathlon in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2005, he was 29 and entering uncharted territory. \u201cIt was a novel competition for me,\u201d said Eric, now 49. \u201cThat\u2019s what made it appealing. I may be slow, but I can go all day. It\u2019s one foot in front […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2146,"featured_media":93824,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9218,1024,402,743,4786,196,162,1412,184,154,493,130,39],"class_list":["post-93523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-anesthesia-services-for-surgery","tag-blood-disorders-disease-care-hematology","tag-brain-surgery","tag-digestive-health-liver-and-pancreas-gastroenterology","tag-general-and-vascular-surgery","tag-imaging-radiology","tag-infectious-diseases","tag-kidney-disease-hypertension-care","tag-neurology","tag-palliative-care","tag-patient-experience","tag-rehabilitation","tag-transplant-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIronman athlete survives sepsis and grueling health crises - 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