A New Year’s vacation to the Bahamas nearly turned near fatal for 62-year-old Brian Roush, whose family is now focused on getting him well enough to return home after contracting a flesh-eating disease.
Roush and his girlfriend travelled to the Bahamas during the holidays to celebrate, which was meant to be a quick tropical getaway. But soon became a medical nightmare.
“He has a little bit of heart damage, and he has a number of secondary infections from just being in the hospital for a long time,” according to his daughter, Brittany Roush who spoke to WFLA. “He can’t walk, and he can’t use most of his limbs right now.”
Her father suffered a minor fall while in the Bahamas, scraping his ankle. He later went swimming with pigs, unaware that the small wound would later become life-threatening.
After returning to Fort Lauderdale, Roush suddenly became violently ill and unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors watched as his ankle rapidly blistered.
“His ankle erupted into blisters right in front of them,” Brittany said. “That’s when doctors suspected necrotizing fasciitis and rushed him into emergency surgery.”
Necrotizing fasciitis, often referred to as a flesh-eating disease, is rare but extremely aggressive. According to health authorities, the infection can be deadly even with prompt medical treatment.
Roush was transferred to Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, where his condition worsened. His lungs, kidneys, and liver failed, and doctors gave him less than a 10 percent chance of survival.
“They told us everything had to go right for him to make it,” Brittany said. “It was touch and go.”
After multiple surgeries and weeks of intensive treatment, Roush has begun a slow and fragile recovery. He remains unable to walk and has limited use of his limbs, with ongoing kidney failure and secondary infections from prolonged hospitalization.
“You can’t explain what it’s like seeing your loved one so weak,” Brittany said. “It’s been very, very difficult.”
Now, with his family by his side, Roush is preparing for the next phase of his recovery. His family hopes he will soon be transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Spring Hill, where he is expected to spend the next three to six months rebuilding his strength and mobility.
Michael says he is angry that they were never warned that the sharks were dangerous. However, tour operator Exuma Escapes said the family wandered over to a lagoon not used on its tour.
