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Dad loses all his limbs after 'nerve pain' was flesh-eating virus


Life-saving surgery has left a Sydney dad a quadriplegic after what he thought was nerve pain turned out to be a flesh-eating bacteria.

Father-of-two Mick O’Dowd first complained of a sore gluteal muscle late December and saw a physiotherapist, but days later his pain intensified and he spent Christmas in hospital thinking the cause was sciatica pain.

A mechanical engineer, Mr O’Dowd, enjoyed working on the car he was building in his garage when he wasn’t playing with his two children, or camping with wife Katharine and the family.

Before the tragedy, Mick O’Dowd was an active dad who enjoyed camping and outings with his family. Source: GoFundMe
Before the tragedy, Mick O’Dowd was an active dad who enjoyed camping and outings with his family. Source: GoFundMe

The 45-year-old ‘s life changed forever on Boxing Day when doctors found he had an infection in his leg that was causing necrotising myositis, otherwise known as flesh-eating bacteria.

“He had a Strep A infection, very common bacteria which would normally just lead to a sore throat. But it got into Mick’s bloodstream and started attacking his muscles,” his wife told Yahoo7 News.

“This led to sepsis – severe toxic shock – which destroyed many of his muscles and caused multiple organ failure.”

His organs were shutting down and Mr O’Dowd was transferred placed on life support in intensive care.

The doctors don’t know how or why the bacteria got into his bloodstream and attacked his muscles, but what they did know was the dad’s only hope of survival was to have surgery to remove his limbs.

“Due to the infection, sepsis and strong blood pressure support medication, his hands and feet had died, and a few weeks ago Mick’s lower legs and arms were amputated,” Mrs O’Dowd told Yahoo7 News.

Mick O’Dowd with wife Katharine and children Amelia and Thomas. Source: GoFundMe
Mick O’Dowd with wife Katharine and children Amelia and Thomas. Source: GoFundMe

“He has had several subsequent surgeries and his right leg is now amputated above the knee, left leg still below the knee but still under review.

“All the muscle from his right gluteal has been removed and he still is facing complex muscle transfer surgery to cover and close his hip. Then he will need extensive skin grafts all over his legs.”

He still faces complex muscle transfer surgery to his right hip and gluteal region where the infection started, but with the dead tissue now removed, the dad now has a better chance of recovery.

He is expected to be off the ventilator soon, allowing him to be able to communicate better with his wife and six-year-old daughter Amelia, and three-year-old boy Thomas.

While remaining positive through the tragedy, Mrs O’Dowd described the past few weeks as “a total nightmare”.

“The first week was very dark and we had to say goodbye to him multiple times. Mick has amazed the doctors by fighting and pulling through every time.”

Mick and Katharine O’Dowd on their wedding day, with baby Amelia. Source: <span class="_5yl5"><span>Scott Ebsary</span></span>
Mick and Katharine O’Dowd on their wedding day, with baby Amelia. Source: Scott Ebsary

Community rallies support to dad following amputation

Ms O’Dowd thanked her strong network of friends and family for their support as the family adjusts to the new life ahead of them.

She shared the devastating news with the Sydney diving community, to an overwhelmingly positive response from people keen to help see her husband continue with his passion.

“As he has started to regain consciousness and lucidity, one of the first things he said to me was ‘no more diving’. But he is strong and will find other things he loves to do,” she wrote on a local diving Facebook group.

The community responded with messages of support from those trained to be “dive buddies” offering to accompany her husband once he has completed his rehab.

Mr O’Dowd intends to purchase prosthetics to enable him to return to work, continue to care for his family and have the best chance of a full life, but they come at a hefty price of $150,000 per hand.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family fundraise towards the cost.

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