The Peggy Lillis Foundation

09/07/2026

Refresher course!

What is C. diff? C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) is a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and dangerous inflammation of the colon and sends hundreds of thousands of people to the hospital every year. It most often takes hold after antibiotics disrupt the healthy bacteria that keep your gut in balance.

Knowing what it is is the first step to protecting yourself and the people you love. Learn more at https://hubs.li/Q04wT86n0

09/02/2026

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and there's something everyone in the C. diff community should know: a severe C. diff infection can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.

Sepsis happens when the body's response to an infection starts to damage its own organs. It moves fast, and knowing the warning signs can save a life.

Remember the acronym TIME:

T – Temperature, higher or lower than normal
I – Infection, with signs of an infection
M – Mental decline, confusion or unusual sleepiness
E – Extremely ill, severe pain or discomfort and shortness of breath

If you or someone you're caring for has C. diff and shows these signs, don't wait. Seek emergency care and tell the medical team you're worried about sepsis.

Awareness is protection. Read more on the blog: https://hubs.li/Q04wclZ_0

Sepsis Alliance

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, a fitting moment to talk about a danger that too many people in the C. diff community learn about the hard way. A C. diff

08/30/2026

The Changing the Odds Gala is almost here, and we couldn't do it without the incredible partners standing with us.

A heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsor, NESTLE Health Science, whose commitment to gut health and the microbiome helps us bring C. diff out of the shadows and closer to a future where it is rare, treatable, and survivable.

And to every sponsor joining us this year: thank you for backing the fight against C. diff and honoring the families who have lost someone to this infection. Your support is what powers this movement forward.

We can't wait to celebrate with you. Together, we're changing the odds. 💚

08/28/2026

Good news in the fight against C. diff. The CDC and the American Dental Association both rolled out new antibiotic stewardship resources this year. It matters because dentists write more than 10% of all outpatient antibiotic prescriptions, often including clindamycin, a drug with an especially high risk of causing C. diff.

Dental care has long been an overlooked piece of the C. diff puzzle, so we're grateful to see the CDC and ADA taking it on.

Read more on the blog: https://hubs.li/Q04vD4t_0

Earlier this year, the CDC released a new Antimicrobial Stewardship toolkit as a part of its efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance in 2026.

08/27/2026

Clear your calendar, dust off your dancing shoes, and get ready for the best night of the fall.

The 17th Annual Changing the Odds Gala is coming to 26 Bridge in Brooklyn on Friday, September 18, and you are going to want to be in the room for it. Think great company, a lively crowd, and a whole lot of heart, all in the name of building a world where C. diff is rare, treatable, and survivable.

We will be celebrating our community and honoring an incredible group of changemakers: Carol Raye with the 2026 Advocate Award, Bobby Warren with the Innovator Award, and Peter Westerhaus and Alex Khoruts with the Leadership Award. It is going to be a genuinely good time in service of meaningful work.

Tickets are just $125, and trust us, this is the invite you do not want to leave sitting on the table.

Grab yours today and come be part of the fun. 💚

https://hubs.li/Q04vtGkB0

08/23/2026

Phoebe's years-long journey with C. diff began after antibiotics for an ear infection and a suspected case of SIBO, and it followed her through two pregnancies while she also lived with ulcerative colitis. She endured recurrent infections, labs that kept rejecting her samples, and an emergency room visit where she was told she was only colonized and would not be treated. She pushed through vancomycin and repeated rounds of Dificid, and at ten weeks postpartum she and her family drove four hours so she could receive Rebyota, an FDA-approved microbiome therapy. The infection has not returned since.

"At my lowest point, I signed up for Peggy Lillis Foundation's Peer Support Network and found comfort in connecting with someone who understood what I was going through. That support reminded me that I wasn't alone."

If you or someone you love is facing C. diff and feeling isolated, Phoebe's story is a reminder that support and hope are within reach. Read Phoebe's full story and many others just like hers at https://hubs.li/Q04tXF480

08/23/2026

Healing your gut is one of the most powerful things you can do after C. diff, and it plays a real role in preventing recurrence. 🌱

The foods you eat can help rebuild the balance that C. diff throws off. Fruits and vegetables rich in soluble fiber, whole grains, and fermented foods deliver the prebiotics and probiotics your gut needs to recover.

Getting back to a place that feels comfortable and sustainable takes time and patience, and you do not have to figure it out alone.

Download our free Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide for C. diff Recovery for practical, easy-to-follow tips on what to eat and how to lower your risk of recurrence: https://hubs.li/Q04tXs9w0

08/20/2026

Behind every C. diff diagnosis is a person, a family, and a story that deserves to be heard.

This year, we are honored to name Carol Raye our 2026 Advocate Award Honoree. After surviving a long and grueling fight with C. diff, Carol turned her recovery into a mission, becoming a tireless voice for a disease too many people have never heard of until it touches their lives.

On the blog, we share Carol's journey alongside the stories of Karl and Tiffani, three very different paths through C. diff, united by hope and the power of advocacy.

Read their stories and join us at the Changing the Odds Gala on September 18 in Brooklyn. Together, we change the odds.

Read the blog and reserve your tickets here:

Meet Carol Raye, our 2026 Advocate Award Honoree, and hear the stories behind the Changing the Odds Gala on September 18 in Brooklyn.

08/14/2026

📣 Last call for early bird tickets to the Changing the Odds Gala 📣

For 17 years, Peggy Lillis Foundation has worked to end the harm caused by C. diff by educating the public, empowering advocates, and shaping policy.

On Friday, September 18, we'll gather in Brooklyn, NY to celebrate that progress and recommit to the patients and families at the heart of this fight.
Early bird pricing ends tonight: tickets are $99 through today, then $125.

We'd love to have you there. Reserve your seat: https://hubs.li/Q04t3mTX0

08/14/2026

Peggy Lillis Foundation’s Peer Support Network was founded in 2022 as a way to provide C. diff sufferers and their families with individualized support and assistance accessing proper care. The Network takes in requests from people around the country (and, sometimes, around the world) and matches them with trained volunteers.

Four years and hundreds of requests later, the Peer Support Network has had a powerful impact on patients in need; but we’re asking people like you to help keep the program going strong! PLF is looking for passionate, engaged people to volunteer with the Network, to help us manage a larger volume of requests, and to add to the diversity of experiences our mentors bring to the table.

If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a peer support mentor, submit an application at https://hubs.li/Q04sWVRp0. We can’t wait to hear from you.