A DAD’S haemorrhoids turned out to be a dangerous flesh-eating disease that left him “an hour from death”.
Keith Jones, 40, went to his doctor last summer complaining of a high temperature and what he suspected was infected haemorrhoids.
Keith Jones, 40, spent nearly six months in hospital fighting for his life after a suspected haemorrhoid issue turned out to be a flesh-eating disease[/caption]
Keith was rushed into emergency surgery after seeing his GP[/caption]
Keith Jones with his daughter Paige – he spent over three weeks in a coma and has a long recovery ahead[/caption]
But the chef, from Whitstable, Kent, was rushed to hospital where medical staff told him the haemorrhoids had developed into necrotising fasciitis – a flesh-eating disease – and sepsis.
The dad-of-four told that if he’d waited a little longer before seeking medical attention he might not have survived – being getting his first of eight emergency surgeries at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent.
Keith said: “I was told if I’d left it an hour or two longer I would probably already be dead.
“I had to have surgery but that’s pretty much the last thing I remember before waking up from the coma.
“I had eight surgeries to remove all the flesh from the area down below and I had mass organ failure and my kidneys, liver, lungs and stomach failed.
“Sepsis was killing me and a ‘do not resuscitate’ order was put in place as there was nothing more to be done.
“The kids were rushed from school to say goodbye to me because they didn’t think I was going to make it through the night.
“However, by some miracle, over the weekend my body started fighting back and I began breathing for myself.”
Necrotising fasciitis is a rare and life-threatening infection that can happen if a wound gets infected, causing damage to deep layers of the skin.
It can cause intense pain or loss of feeling near the cut or wound, as well as swelling and flu-like symptoms like, high temperature, headache and tiredness.
NHS advice says symptoms can develop quickly within hours or over a few days and symptoms need to be treated in hospital straight away.
Keith was rushed to hospital on August 22 and was in a coma for three-and-a-half weeks – missing his 40th birthday – before he was eventually woken up.
He spent further time in intensive care recovering and had to have physiotherapy after losing the ability to move his arms and legs.
While he has now regained control of most of his body, he has been told it is unlikely he will ever walk again unaided due to the irreversible nerve damage to his feet.
I lost all feeling in my hands, arms, legs and feet.
I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t drink, I couldn’t feed myself, I couldn’t do anything
Keith Jones
But, after months of fighting in hospital, Keith was finally well enough to go back to his home in coastal Seasalter, Kent, which he shares with his fiancée, Lauren, and their four children – Eiyla, Paige, Francesca and Jake.
Keith said: “I lost all feeling in my hands, arms, legs and feet.
“I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t drink, I couldn’t feed myself, I couldn’t do anything.
“I can’t raise my left arm above my shoulder but I can use my hands and my arms now.
“From my ankles down, my feet are completely gone. I can’t wiggle my toes, I can’t control them, they’re just numb.
“I can’t walk around the house, I have a bed in the living room so I can be at home and I can transfer from bed to chair using a frame or crutches.
“I’m adapting and adjusting to my life now.”
What is necrotising fasciitis?
Necrotising fasciitis, also called the “flesh-eating disease”, is a rare and life-threatening infection.
It can happen when bacteria enters the body through an open wound, like a cut or burn.
The infection spreads quickly and aggressively, causes tissue death and can be deadly if not treated right away.
The signs and symptoms to know:
Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis can develop quickly within hours or over a few days.
At first, you may have:
- Intense pain or loss of feeling near to a cut or wound – the pain may seem much worse than you would usually expect from a cut or wound
- Swelling of the skin around the affected area
- Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headache and tiredness
Later symptoms can include:
- Being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea
- Confusion
- Black, purple or grey blotches and blisters on the skin (these may be less obvious on black or brown skin)
Typical treatment:
Necrotising fasciitis gets worse very quickly and can kill.
This is why it must be treated in hospital as soon as possible.
Sufferers will usually be given antibiotics to fight off the infection or in some cases, surgery to remove the affected area
Even after successful treatment, there may be long-term changes in how the body looks. Some people require further surgery and physiotherapy to help recover.
To aid his adjustment and quality of life, Keith’s sister, Sarah Jones, has launched a fundraiser in the hopes of raising enough to buy mobility aids such as a wheelchair and mobility scooter to help him regain independence.
In a statement on the JustGiving page, Sarah said: “My brother has been through hell and back.
“He has already defied the odds, but we want to give him the tools he needs to keep fighting and rebuild his life.
“We are so grateful for his strength, the love of his family, and his determination to move forward. He truly is a fighter.”
So far, the page has raised £355 of the £5,000 target.
Previously a head chef at The Monument Pub in Whitstable, Keith is currently unable to work and has a long road ahead for his recovery.
It is not currently clear if he will ever be back to being his normal self or be able to work again, but Keith says he is grateful just to have a second chance at life.
Keith with his fiance Lauren[/caption]
‘Lucky to be here’
He is now sharing his story to encourage more people to seek medical help, and not put off going to the doctors if they need help.
“I nearly died and I’m lucky to be here,” he said.
“People don’t realise how serious sepsis is.
“I now can’t walk far due to it. But I’m alive. And it really has changed my life.
“I feel like a new man and my goal in life is to be the best version of me for everyone.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Source: NHS
“To live life and just be happy, as I know, it can be shorter than we planned.
“But I worked hard enough to be allowed home, continuing wound dressing changes and physio from home.
“It’s been a long six months, with plenty of lows but I survived.
“I’m alive and I’m here for my family, my kids for as long as possible.”
You can donate to the JustGiving page here.
Keith is fighting to stay with his kids as long as possible[/caption]
He’s warning others to seek medical help as soon a possible[/caption]
