Alsop spent nine days in a coma on life support, desperately fighting for her life while around 100 specialists at Gold Coast University Hospital ran countless tests and scans, trying to figure out what was wrong with her, news.com.au reported.
Caitlin was in a coma for nine days. Photo / Supplied
After multiple tests, doctors discovered Alsop had been suffering from a rare life-threatening oral infection called Ludwig's Angina for months. The extremely rare condition β which can occur after a tooth abscess β likely stemmed from Alsop's infected wisdom tooth.
Sufferers are essentially strangled from within as excessive swelling in the mouth and throat obstructs the airway.
"Prior to my hospital admission, I had seen various doctors, and had tests, but no-one had realised a deadly infection was silently ravaging me from the inside out," a shaken Alsop told 7 News.
"I hadn't experienced any pain and I'd always maintained good oral hygiene."
Alsop says the road to recovery has been long and she was left with scars and a permanent lisp from the incident, but insists the traumatic experience changed her.
"I realise how lucky I am to be here," she said.
"It's one of those experiences you never expect to happen, but you have the choice to let it ruin you, or let it build you.
