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While shopping at Walmart, Rory McCarty noticed an elderly cashier named Warren Marion working at the register. Marion, an 82-year-old Navy veteran and widower, was reportedly still working to continue paying off his house. After speaking with him, McCarty created a GoFundMe campaign connected to Marion’s situation. The fundraiser spread online through TikTok and other social media platforms. More than 6,500 people later contributed donations. The total amount raised exceeded $166,000. According to posts connected to the fundraiser, McCarty hoped the money would help Marion retire and spend more time visiting family members. A conversation at a retail checkout later developed into a large online fundraising campaign involving thousands of donors.

A dog lick cost him everything.

In June 2018, Wisconsin man Greg Manteufel thought he had the flu. He had a fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. By the next morning, his temperature had soared and he was delirious. His wife rushed him to the hospital, where his body was already covered in bruises.

Doctors found Capnocytophaga bacteria in his blood, which caused sepsis, a severe blood infection that led to his blood pressure dropping and many of his organs shutting down. His blood flow dropped so low he developed gangrene. The tissue began dying and turning blue.

Doctors told him that when he arrived, his blood platelet count was so low he had only three hours to live. Within days of being admitted, he first lost both feet. After a second surgery, doctors amputated through both kneecaps. His hands, all fingers down to mid-palm, were also removed, with his nose requiring extensive repairs.

Up to 74% of dogs carry this bacteria in their mouths, yet his doctor told him he could have hit the lottery five times in a row before getting this infection. That's how rare it was.

"I can't just stop liking dogs because this happened," Manteufel said. "I'll always love dogs."