A man experienced a severe health crisis after visiting the Bahamas, when a flesh-eating bacterium entered his body.
Brian Roush, aged 62, spent New Year with his girlfriend, Tonia Buford Stinson, celebrating their decision to move in together by taking a memorable trip.
Unfortunately, the Florida resident could not have anticipated that a simple trip and scrape to his ankle would put his life in danger.
His daughter, Brittany Roush, informed WFLA that the injury was minor and did not impact his activities like swimming with pigs and enjoying waterslides.
On his way back to Fort Lauderdale on January 3, however, Roush ‘became violently ill’.
A GoFundMe page created to assist with his hospital expenses disclosed that he was admitted with ‘severe septic shock’, and required intubation and ventilation.
Brittany shared with WFLA that, while in the emergency room, ‘his ankle erupted into blisters’, leading doctors to suspect necrotizing fasciitis, a condition known as a flesh-eating disease.
This disease results in the death of skin tissue, causing it to appear blackened and dead.
The Cleveland Clinic states that this condition ‘affects about 1 in every 250,000 people in the United States’ and can be triggered by scrapes, cuts, insect bites, and similar injuries.
Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon condition that occurs when tissue dies due to a loss of circulation.
Symptoms often include swelling, blistering, fever, and dizziness.
Due to the significant impact on his life, the GoFundMe page mentions that ‘he will be unable to work for at least the next 3 months, and while he is fortunate enough to have health insurance and short and long term disability coverage, it won’t be enough to cover everything that’s piling up’.
Despite undergoing surgery to remove necrotic tissue, ‘sepsis was wreaking havoc’ on his body.
The GoFundMe page reported: “Brian’s liver, kidneys, and lungs failed while he was in septic shock and he was placed in an induced coma on life support. His ankle became gangrenous, and most of the flesh from his ankle to his lower calf had to be removed down to the bone.”
Given his dire condition, doctors estimated his chance of survival at only 10 percent.
Nonetheless, Roush made a remarkable recovery.
The fundraising page noted that he was ‘miraculously’ doing better ‘after a week of nonstop antibiotics and life support,’ with his infection cleared, and his lungs and liver beginning to heal.
However, challenges remain.
Roush will need to relearn how to walk and remain in long-term care.
“He is doing his best to maintain a positive attitude despite waking up to this nightmare,” the GoFundMe page details.