A small cut turned to a life-altering health battle

Updated Feb. 3, 2025, 8:12 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

A tiny wound on his index finger turned into a life-threatening battle for Georg Winterling.

What started as a small, seemingly harmless cut turned into a life-threatening nightmare for 40-year-old Georg Winterling from Germany.

Like most of us, he didn’t think twice about it.

He sustained a tiny wound on his index finger while he inflated an old air mattress in his cellar. Within a matter of days, that minor injury led to a medical emergency that changed his life forever.

After noticing a blister forming around the cut, Georg decided to get it checked out. Two doctors reassured him that it didn’t seem too serious, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.

Days later, Georg was struggling to breathe. The mild infection had spiralled into something far more dangerous. After he was rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered the terrifying cause - sepsis.

What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to infection. The body’s immune system goes into overdrive, attacking its own organs and tissues. In Georg’s case, the infection came from mouse droppings on the old mattress.

Sadly, his body’s attempt to fight it off triggered septic shock, a condition that causes organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure.

Doctors acted fast, putting Georg into an induced coma to keep his vital organs functioning. However, to preserve his life, blood flow was redirected to his most essential organs, leaving his arms and legs without enough oxygen. Sadly the damage was irreversible.

When he woke up, Georg was hit with the devastating news that his arms and legs had been amputated to save his life.

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Before this ordeal, Georg had never even heard of sepsis. Now, he knows just how deadly it can be.

“I was completely unaware of what sepsis is and what it can lead to in the end,” he said. “In most cases, it leads to death because it is not recognized properly. In that respect, I was very lucky to have survived it.”

Recovery hasn’t been easy. He’s had to learn how to walk again with prosthetic legs, and he now depends on his wife and children for daily support. Despite the challenges, Georg remains determined to reclaim his independence.

Thankfully, Georg has made remarkable progress, even returning to one of his biggest passions - skiing! Though the road ahead is tough, he refuses to let his circumstances define him.

“Things will continue to progress. If one approach doesn’t work, there’s always another. And finding that new approach becomes the important thing to do.”

Georg’s remarkable story is a powerful reminder of how fragile life can be and how quickly things can change.

It also highlights the importance of recognizing sepsis early, as acting fast can mean the difference between life and death.

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