I thought my time was up – God has other plans

Upon a return to work in a few days, we will announce plans for some of the most exciting things we’ve ever done in GatorBait and journalism.

By Buddy Martin

GatorBaitmedia.com

To paraphrase and borrow from an old Mark Twain line, the rumors of my death were not all that exaggerated.

In fact, the Grim Reaper recently had me in his grip and I barely managed to escape.

I think I heard my maker say, “We can’t take him yet, he’s got a huge year ahead with historic seasons for the Florida Gators football and basketball teams!”

I’ll take that!

Fact is, GatorBait and Buddy Martin are about to bounce back with ambitious plans and a spectacular rebrand!

It all looked gloomy and very much in question just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, when I started talking gibberish, much to the concern of my caregiver Ashlyn, who sometimes tends to me at home in Panama City. She became alarmed and phoned my daughter, Rebecca, in Pennsylvania. By now, I was passed out and was about to wake up in the back of an ambulance on the wrong end of a 911 call, barely alert, confused and afraid. I had no idea how close I was to death, and only because of the quick action by friends, family and doctors was I able to make it.

What In the world what was going on?

My body was “raging with infection” and dangerously close to imploding with bacteria. I knew next to nothing about sepsis which can be fatal and would later learn it is the body’s extreme, life-threatening response to infection. It is a medical emergency that triggers a cascade of reactions causing tissue damage and organ failure. If untreated, it can quickly progress to septic shock, and with it a dangerous drop in blood pressure. 

 All of sudden my teeth were chattering violently. I did not know these were the symptoms of sepsis:

                 •               Shivering, fever, or feeling very cold

                  •               Extreme pain or general discomfort

                  •               Pale or discolored skin

                  •               Sleepiness, confusion, or disorientation

                  •               Feeling like I might die (a sense of impending doom)

                  •               Shortness of breath 

I checked all those boxes.

                  •               YouTube:
Common Causes – Sepsis is usually triggered by bacterial infections, but it can also result from viral (e.g., flu), fungal, or parasitic infections. Common sources of these initial infections include: 

                  •               Pneumonia (lungs)

                  •               Urinary tract infections (kidneys/bladder)

                  •               Abdominal infections

                  •               Infected cuts or wounds 

                  •               Sepsis Alliance


When to Seek Help

“Sepsis is a medical emergency. One must seek immediate medical attention or go to the nearest emergency room amid signs of a worsening infection alongside symptoms like high fever, extreme confusion, rapid heart rate, or difficulty breathing.”

Thanks to some extraordinary doctors at HCA Florida, Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City, the love and care of my family and the immediate action of my stepson, Sheriff Tommy Ford, plus the Lord’s blessings, I Iived to fight again another day.

Not only did I survive, but eventually will prevail again in my profession.

In a twist of fate, I will be just like brand new and extremely motivated to grab the wheel again soon with some ambitious plans.

Upon a return to work in a few days, we will announce plans for some of the most exciting things we’ve ever done in GatorBait and journalism. You’ll be hearing about a new book with coach Steve Spurrier, “Me and My Quarterbacks“ which we will publish by the end of the year.

We are also announcing plans for a GatorBait magazine in print – yes, print, remember? —by Carlton Reese.

GatorBait will soon make that return to print in a glorious and refined quarterly magazine, designed for Gator fans who appreciate long-form journalism and crave that keepsake which announces one’s true colors and intellectual depth.

“With its veteran team of wordsmiths including Buddy Martin and Franz Beard, GatorBait Quarterly will bring analysis, perspective and opinion in a form marked for serious followers of University of Florida sports,” Reese announced.

The first issue will come out before the start of football season to prepare everyone for the Jon Sumrall era and will be available through subscription or various newsstands.

We are also asking fans to join our “Bring Back GatorBait!” Campaign in hopes that it will catch the eye of new school president Stuart Bell so that he might right this grievous wrong.