Dougherty County Survivor Sounds Alarm on Sepsis: “Pay Attention to Yo

   

Sepsis, the body’s extreme response to infection, can escalate with alarming speed, often becoming fatal within hours if left untreated. Gordon knows this reality firsthand.

“If you don’t get medical attention, you can die within 12 to 24 hours,” she said. “I was in that 12-hour window.”

Her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to a critical moment in the operating room.

“I stopped breathing on the operating table,” Gordon said. “They had to put me on radical antibiotics, and that’s what saved my life.”

Her medical crisis began April 12, 2021, and resulted in nearly two months in the hospital, including two weeks in a coma. Reflecting on that time, she described seeing a photo of herself during her hospitalization.

Her testimony highlights a broader and growing public health concern. Each year, approximately 1.7 million Americans develop sepsis, and about 350,000 dies from the condition or related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Southern states, including Georgia, report some of the highest rates of sepsis-related hospitalizations, according to data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Five years later, Gordon said recovery from sepsis is not something that simply ends when a patient leaves the hospital.

“It’s never-ending,” she said. “You have to keep yourself checked. Sometimes you just don’t feel well.”

Gordon stressed that sepsis does not always begin with a severe or obvious illness. In some cases, it can develop from something as common as strep throat.

“You can have strep throat and it’ll turn into sepsis,” she said. “I lost a friend four weeks ago from that.”

Even minor injuries can become dangerous if left untreated.

“A simple cut can lead to sepsis,” she said. “You can even get it in the hospital.”

In her own case, Gordon acknowledged that delaying medical care contributed to the severity of her condition.

“I tried to fix it myself,” she said. “Don’t do that. Go to the doctor.”

She urged residents to be proactive about their health and to advocate for themselves when seeking care.

“If you go to the doctor and you’re still sick, ask them to check you for sepsis,” she said. “All it takes is a sample of blood.”

Local officials and attendees commended Gordon for sharing her story and emphasized the importance of expanding awareness efforts.

“Thank you for being a fighter and for raising awareness,” Dougherty County Commissioner Victor Edwards said during the meeting.

For Gordon, survival has become a mission rooted in education and prevention.

“Please help me spread the word so we can save more lives,” she said. “Sepsis is bad. It’s deadly.”

She has plans to share her testimony more broadly through various communication platforms and to connect with health partners to distribute educational materials. Her message to the community is clear: pay attention to your body, seek medical attention early and never ignore warning signs.