Fit dad facing loss of toes and fingers after developing sore throat
James Wood was an avid cyclist and hiker before suddenly contracting a life-threatening condition.
WARNING - DISTRESSING IMAGES: A fit and healthy dad is facing the loss of his fingers and toes after a sore throat and "feeling cold" led to a life-threatening condition.
James Wood, an avid cyclist and hiker, began feeling unwell one afternoon in February and his "yellowish appearance" alerted his wife Linsey that something was wrong, his friends revealed in a fundraiser set up for his family.
Paramedics arrived at their house near Chesterfield in the UK shortly after and on arrival quickly suspected sepsis — poisoning of the blood. Mr Wood, in his 30s, was rushed to the nearest hospital where he "deteriorated quickly". At that point, just hours after arriving and with his family by his side, the "fit and athletic" father of two was experiencing "multiple organ failure" and was put into an induced coma just to keep him alive.
"His kidneys and liver had already stopped working and his blood pressure was dangerously low due to the sepsis. His body was going into septic shock," a GoFundMe page set up by his friends revealed.
Mr Wood was unable to breathe on his own and was relying on a ventilator. He was also on dialysis for his kidneys and medication for his blood pressure. "Antibiotics were also being used to try and treat the sepsis," his friends explained.
Blood work later suggested his condition at been caused by Strep A (Streptococcus) which he'd contracted not long before, two years after being diagnosed with a heart condition — cardiomyopathy (Laminopathy). His heart condition saw him fitted with an implantable defibrillator and pacemaker (ICD) which had to be removed during his sepsis infection.
"James was described by NHS (National Healthcare System) staff as being one of the poorliest patients in the country with the odds of survival stacked firmly against him" his loved ones revealed. "Hour by hour, updates were given to his family with doctors and nurses working on him throughout the night. The first 48 hours of being in intensive care were crucial to James’ recovery."
Sick dad faced with new challenges
After 10 days on life support, Mr Wood's body "gradually became stronger". He has weaned off the blood pressure support, the dialysis, and eventually the ventilator. After spending a month in hospital, Mr Wood is now at home where he's visited daily by nurses.
His family were told that if he hadn't been as young and fit as he was, he wouldn't be here today. But due to the severity of the sepsis and the medication used to save his life, he's now facing a host of new challenges.
"He has suffered damage to his hands and feet and he is likely to lose the majority of his fingers to his knuckles, toes and it is still a waiting game to see if his feet can recover," his friends revealed. "With the aid of crutches and a zimmer frame, James is walking to the bathroom and is pushing himself each day to move further".
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Friends of Mr and Mrs Wood hope to raise $45,000 (£25,000) for the family which will see them through his recovery. Mrs Wood said her husband is "very optimistic about the future and grateful to be alive". "He now has the chance to see his children grow up, which at the darkest of times we didn't think would be possible," she said.
Sharing an update on Instagram this week, his brother George expressed relief for his sibling to be back home with his family.
"After being told the odds of him surviving were very much stacked against him, he's still here! Back home with his family," he said. "My brother continues to amaze me with how hard he's fighting to recover and adapt to the life-changing consequences of how ill he's been."
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