Peter Atkinson, a 49-year-old business owner from North Wales, Pennsylvania, initially believed he was suffering from the flu when he developed a 104-degree fever. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to an emergency surgical intervention after doctors discovered a critical mass in his right shoulder. Atkinson, a father of three, recounted the swiftness of the medical response, stating he was rushed into surgery and intubated just minutes after showing doctors the mass.

He was subsequently diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and aggressive flesh-eating bacterial infection that rapidly destroys healthy tissues. This severe infection led to sepsis, a life-threatening immune system overreaction that obstructs blood and oxygen flow throughout the body. In Atkinson's case, the sepsis caused his kidneys to fail.

The ordeal has been particularly traumatic for Atkinson's family, as his sister, Marietta Atkinson, revealed a similar tragedy occurred in 2016 when they lost another sister to sepsis. Peter Atkinson has been battling both necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis, and his prognosis was initially grim, with doctors not optimistic about his survival chances.

Placed on a ventilator to assist with breathing, Atkinson showed signs of improvement by Christmas. He has since been removed from the ventilator, though his kidneys have not recovered, necessitating ongoing dialysis treatments to filter waste and excess fluids from his body. His wife, Sherri Paulson-Atkinson, expressed the profound difficulty of seeing her active and hardworking husband in such a critical state, emphasizing the family's need for him to recover.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition, with the CDC estimating 700 to 1,150 cases in the US annually. It typically occurs when bacteria, such as group A Streptococcus, E.coli, or clostridium, enter the body through open wounds, rapidly multiplying and causing tissue death (necrosis). This infection can lead to amputations in about one in five cases and has a mortality rate of 10 to nearly 40 percent, even with treatment. Sepsis is considerably more common, affecting an estimated one American every 20 seconds and causing around 200,000 deaths annually in the US, with a mortality rate of about 30 percent.

As the primary financial provider for his family, Atkinson's inability to work at his towing company for the foreseeable future has created a significant financial burden. A GoFundMe campaign initiated by a friend is supporting the family through this unimaginable time, having raised $16,000 towards an $18,000 goal. While Atkinson is on the path to recovery, doctors anticipate a long and challenging journey ahead. He is scheduled for another procedure this week, with hopes of soon transitioning to a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery.