Genevieve Gallagher, a 49-year-old mother of three, is sharing her story to help protect others after a serious bacterial infection nearly cost her her life and left her family deeply shaken.

On July 27, Genevieve went boating with her husband, Dana, and their 7-year-old daughter, Mila, in Pensacola Bay. She had a small cut on her left leg, carefully covered with a waterproof bandage. After returning home, she rinsed the area with fresh water and thought everything was fine.

But just a few days later, while at work, she noticed something was wrong — her leg was swollen, warm, and turning darker in color. “I ran to the bathroom, and I had an ankle bracelet on,” she said. “It was so swollen I couldn’t even see it.”

She rushed for medical help, and doctors discovered that a dangerous waterborne bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus had entered through the small cut. This type of bacteria lives in warm, salty or mixed water and can be harmful if it reaches an open wound.

By July 30, Genevieve’s condition had worsened rapidly, and doctors had to act fast to stop the infection from spreading. She spent almost a week in intensive treatment as her medical team worked tirelessly to save her.

“They removed a lot of tissue from my leg to keep the infection under control,” she said. “The doctors did an amazing job. I could have lost everything. I’m forever thankful they saved my life.”

Now recovering after multiple surgeries, Genevieve is using her experience to raise awareness about staying safe in coastal waters.

“I’m not afraid of the beach,” she shared, “but I want people to be careful. Don’t go into the water if you have even a tiny cut or freshly shaved skin. It’s not worth the risk.”

Her message is simple — life and health come first.