32 Split-Second Decisions That Changed People’s Lives

While most people may stop at a second opinion when suffering from a mystery ailment, one Redditor found that the third time wasn’t only the charm, it also saved their life.

After being brushed off by two physicians with their complaints of “unnatural tiredness,” the poster listened to their gut and headed to yet another doctor for their take. Moments after sitting down in their office, they were immediately sent for “urgent blood tests” that proved just how dire their situation had become. “It turns out I had severe blood poisoning,” they recalled, noting that they were “on the verge of organ failure.” “If I’d not gone for a third opinion, I’d be dead now.”

This alive-and-thriving poster is far from the only person who had their life changed by an off-handed choice. Below are a number of other split-second decisions that had a major impact, the wildest of which include avoiding deadly accidents, putting down the bottle and chance encounters that led to decades-long relationships.