Tennis Champion Ken Flach’s Legacy Includes Widow’s Mission to Eliminate Sepsis

September 08 01:43 2020

With September being Sepsis Awareness month, it’s important to bring awareness to the disease and those within the advocacy who are making a difference. Christina Flach, mother of five, celebrity makeup artist, and CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup, has been taking strides to make a difference and bring awareness to the disease that took her husband from her. On March 12, 2018,  Ken Flach Olympic Gold Medalist, and doubles specialist, he won four Grand Slam men’s doubles titles (two Wimbledon and two US Open), and two mixed doubles titles (Wimbledon and French Open) died a preventable death due to Sepsis. Now, his widow, Christina Flach, is raising her voice to prevent other families from bearing the same loss. Christina has been interviewed by several news organizations, and is seeking further advocacy opportunities to share Ken’s story and save lives. Since his passing, she has devoted her life to raising public awareness to both Sepsis and the warning signs that, when identified correctly, can help save a loved one’s life. 

Christina, since the passing of Ken, instead of dwelling on the  loss, has cultivated her  grief into a steadfast passion, as she’s now spoken out about the topic on Fox News, KTVU, NBC Bay Area, Tennis Channel,  ABC Bay Area, CBS, Tolbert and Lund, DR Channel Sirius Radio, and Marin Magazine. She has partnered with Sepsis Alliance to produce awareness campaigns highlighting Ken’s story and the importance of swift action when it comes to this time sensitive diagnosis.

Christina is a speaker about grief. She takes into account her grieving process, and sets an example for all as she teaches them how to grieve in a positive life. Her life being filled with tragic loss, starting with the loss of her mom when Flach was only 20, son Beau’s passing on Christmas Day of 2006, and Ken’s unexpected death in 2018, her life has been no walk in the park. However, Flach maintains a positive outlook on life as her bubbly energy is contagious and brightens up the mood of every room. Being able to help people prevent tragedy and cope with it in a healthy way is Flach’s passion and newfound life mission. 

“Sepsis is tricky because it is treatable as long as it is caught early, but it is devastating if the diagnosis arrives too late. In Ken’s case, he called Kaiser asking for help, but they did not take his complaints seriously, and they concluded his problem was insignificant without even seeing him. It’s critical that people are aware of the symptoms, so they can act fast in order to get lifesaving treatment,” shared Christina, “You know your body. Trust your intuition. Sepsis symptoms are on a whole other level than your typical ailment. Get help as fast as possible, and don’t take no for an answer. Your life, or the life of your loved one, could be at risk.”

“Not enough people have heard of sepsis,  they don’t know the symptoms, they don’t know how fast-moving and how deadly it is. With each interview, we have the opportunity to save someone’s life,” Christina noted of her mission.

“I truly believe that honoring my husband and son in a positve way instead of just being sad and miserable is how they both would want it.”

Christina Flach started both the Baby Beau Fund and Ken Flach Fund at the Northern Light School in Oakland, California, as well as the Beau Friedman Outdoor Classroom at the Edna Maguire School in Mill Valley, California. She did these things in order to pay tribute to the tragedies of her life, painting the people closest to her heart as the helping hands they would have grown up to be. Her son, Ben Friedman, raised $35,500 for both funds in the Vida Blue Celebrity Golf tournament fundraiser for The Northern Light School. Through Flach’s selfless actions, we see pain and sorrow turned into the cultivation of heroism on behalf of her lost loved ones. 

Christina is available for interviews, and is willing to travel far-and-wide to raise the public’s awareness of sepsis and prevent further loss of life, and the grief that comes along with it. Interested parties can call (415)717-9864, email [email protected]. To learn more about Sepsis at http://www.sepsis.org, and tell our healthcare system to enact lifesaving Sepsis protocols by signing this petition.

Media Contact
Company Name: Pretty Girl Makeup
Contact Person: Christina Flach
Email: Send Email
Phone: 415-717-9864
Address:23 Palmer Drive
City: Novato
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: www.prettygirlmakeup.com