“Emily in Paris” star Ashley Park revealed on Instagram Friday that she experienced a serious health crisis at the start of the new year after tonsillitis turned into severe septic shock and infected several of her organs.
The actor and singer who appears in the popular television series – currently streaming on Netflix announced went into production for the fourth season – said she was on vacation in December over the holidays until New Year's when she became ill.
“I was hesitant to share what happened since I'm still in the middle of recovery… but I know now that I'm safely on the other side of the worst,” Park wrote alongside photos of her in a hospital bed. “As I sit here processing and recovering from the first few weeks of 2024, only one word comes to mind: gratitude.”
Sepsis is a fatal condition that occurs when the body responds incorrectly to an infection, said Dr. Anthony Fiore of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously told CBS News.
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“It can be so deadly because it can lead to organ failure and death due to lack of blood flow and associated inflammation,” Fiore said.
The disease is also time-sensitive – the longer a sepsis patient takes to receive medical treatment, the more likely it is to be fatal. According to the CDC, between 1 and 3 million people in the United States develop sepsis each year, and between 15 and 30% of these patients die.
Symptoms of sepsis include chills, severe pain, disorientation and shortness of breath. The infections that most commonly lead to sepsis include lung infections, urinary tract infections, and intestinal and skin infections.
While many people recover from the disease and are able to return to their normal lives, others experience long-term complications if one or more of their organs become too damaged by the infection.
In her post, Park explained that she spent time in the intensive care unit and in several hospitals in severe pain. She thanked the medical staff who helped her through her treatment, her family and team, and especially her friend and “Emily in Paris” actor Paul Forman, who supported her throughout the ordeal.
“You calmed my fears and carried me through ambulances, three foreign hospitals, a week in intensive care, scary emergency rooms, countless scans and tests and injections, unbearable pain and so much confusion while we were alone on the other side of the world from those we know,” wrote the 32-year-old.
At the end of her post, the actress assured fans that she was doing better, writing, “I'm fine and I promise I will be fine.”
Many celebrities commented on the Instagram post in support of Park, including her “Emily in Paris” co-star Lily Collins.
“I can barely watch this without crying,” Collins wrote. “I love you sister and I'm forever grateful for you being on the other side and to @peforman for your incredibly big heart and for being there every step of the way.”
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