A 47-year-old British businessman is trapped in Costa Rica after suffering genital gangrene after a terrible reaction to conventional surgery as his family fights to bring him home for treatment.
- Colin Grow, 47, underwent minor surgery in Costa Rica in January.
- Four days later, Mr Grow’s genitals were attacked by a flesh-eating insect.
- He spent nine weeks in the hospital fighting for his life, accumulating an £80,000 bill.
- His family in Lancashire launched a GoFundMe to help him get back home.
A British businessman who underwent minor surgery in Costa Rica in January spent nine weeks fighting for his life after a flesh-eating insect infected his genitals.
Colin Grow, 47, was discharged after surgery, but for four days he was in severe pain when the deadly bacteria from necrotizing fasciitis attacked his genitals.
Surgeons were forced to remove large sections of the affected area as the dead tissue spread rapidly.
British businessman Colin Grow, 47, suffered a life-threatening infection when his genitals were attacked by an incredibly rare flesh-eating insect after undergoing minor surgery in Costa Rica.
Mr Grow, pictured in a hospital in Costa Rica, spent nine weeks fighting for his life after
Medics struggled to identify the right antibiotic to fight the infection, leaving him in critical condition.
After a long stay in the hospital, he is still given antibiotics to kill the infection.
Despite being treated at a Costa Rica public hospital, Mr Grow has been billed £80,000 to date for his treatment, although this is expected to rise to £150,000.
Mr Grow’s sister, Tanya Willis, 49, from Parbold, Lancashire, said her brother went to Costa Rica to take advantage of a business opportunity.
According to Ms Willis, doctors diagnosed Fournier’s gangrene and were forced to remove layers of infected skin until healthy tissue was found.
Ms Willis said: “It was absolutely horrendous for him, he’s in exceptional severe pain, he can’t sit properly – he only had a 30 percent chance of survival because it’s such a rare bacterial infection and there aren’t many of them.” . antibiotics that can treat these types of infections.”
She said it was “terrifying” to be so far away from her brother when he was having a “near-death experience.”
Despite being released from the hospital, Mr. Grow has to visit the hospital three times a week to prevent the spread of various infections.
Ms Willis said: “They are still trying to fight infections that are very resistant to antibiotics.” He is too ill to travel, so we are unable to bring him home.”
Mr Groe’s sister Tanya Willis, 49, has launched GoFundMe to raise funds for a businessman with over £80,000 in medical bills. He faces another £70,000 before his treatment is completed.
Doctors told Mr Grow that he had defeated the flesh-eating bug, but without further treatment he would not be able to return home to the UK.
Ms Willis said: “I think he was exceptionally unlucky to be infected with such bacteria. Once he was on the beach, and three days later he was already in the hospital, fighting for his life, it happened so quickly. It was supposed to be a daytime procedure – he had just caught an infection, and it literally escalated from something insignificant to the fact that he was on his deathbed.
Ms. Willis said she started GoFundMe to help her brother deal with his bills.
She added, “I want him to be able to focus on his recovery and not worry about finances and how he’s actually going to recover from the financial implications of this.”
“I spoke to him yesterday and he told me on the phone that he is absolutely overwhelmed and overwhelmed by all the messages of support he has received from all over the world.
“We can’t help him physically, but what we can do is ease his financial burden and I’m so grateful for all the donations we’ve received from people all over the world.”
WHAT IS FOURNIER GANGRENE?
Fournier’s gangrene is a life-threatening infection that causes rotting of the skin and genital tissues.
It was originally reported by Baurienne in 1764 and Fournier in 1883 as a rapidly progressive gangrene of the perineum in both men and women.
It usually manifests itself in immunocompromised and overweight patients, in particular diabetics.
Pain and fever are the main symptoms.
Rapid diagnosis and immediate treatment are critical due to how quickly the infection can progress.
Gangrene usually affects the extremities, such as fingers and toes, hands and feet.
It refers to the breakdown and death of tissue as a result of cutting off blood flow to a specific area of your body.
Gangrene can occur in the muscles and internal organs.
Treatment for gangrene includes surgery to remove dead tissue, antibiotics, and other approaches.