A Navy veteran is being recognized for taking action to save her neighbors life after he contracted a flesh-eating bacteria.

“They said if I hadn`t gotten to the hospital when I did I would have had a half hour left to live,” Norfolk resident John Waldbaum told WTKR.

Waldbaum contracted the bacteria last month while fishing in the outer banks of North Carolina. The infection started in his hand.

“It started getting black and I thought it was just sun poisoning or something,” Waldbaum said.

In a day, it moved up to his arm. 

He was so sick he barely made it back home, jackknifing his trailer in the front yard and collapsing on the couch.  His wife, Maria, ran next door to Deborah Richard’s house for help. 

Richard, a retired Navy hospital corpsman, said when she saw Waldbaum she knew he had an infection in his arm.

“His coloring was gone, his arm was swollen and infected. He was barely breathing,” she said.

Waldbaum was rushed to the hospital where Richard would not leave his side until he was seen by a doctor.

“They told me we had to check him in and we didn’t have time to check him in. I looked at the lady and I said we do not have time,” Richard said.

Richard was right. When doctors saw Waldbaum they rushed him into emergency surgery with what they said was a half hour to spare. The bacteria had spread and could have killed him. 

His family rushed to his side and his daughter was beside herself with fear that her father might not make it.

Waldbaum made it thorough surgery, but doctors had to amputate his arm to save his life. But he is grateful he’s still here, surrounded by those who love him.

“I must have had a guardian angel taking care of me. Little did I know my vitals were shutting down and I had gotten sepsis,” Waldbaum said.

Waldbaum’s wife, Maria, called Richard an angel.

“I am so grateful, she’s an angel, I don’t know what I’d do without my husband.”

Richard was awarded a People Taking Action award from a local TV station and a $300 gift card from Southern Bank.

Waldbaum said Richard saved his life.

“We’ve shed a few tears since I got home,” he said.