ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Queensland dad-of-three died of the flu

Queensland dad-of-three died of the flu

With 49 people dead from the flu in NSW alone, the toll is set to rise.

With 49 people dead from the flu in NSW alone, the toll is set to rise.

'I'm being strangled alive' Aussie woman's TOOTH put her in a coma

'I'm being strangled alive' Aussie woman's TOOTH put her in a coma

18 days in a coma: How a Perth mum won the fight against coronavirus

18 days in a coma: How a Perth mum won the fight against coronavirus

{headline}

{headline}

Family's heartbreak as teenage girl 'dies from the flu'

Family's heartbreak as teenage girl 'dies from the flu'

Woman wakes up from coma after 28 YEARS!

Woman wakes up from coma after 28 YEARS!

Mum’s warning: My girl got the flu and lost all of her limbs

Mum’s warning: My girl got the flu and lost all of her limbs

{headline}

{headline}

Geoff was feeling fine, but lurking in his blood was a deadly disease.

Geoff was feeling fine, but lurking in his blood was a deadly disease.

Labour horror: I lost all my blood!

Labour horror: I lost all my blood!

My drug addiction was cured by a coma

My drug addiction was cured by a coma

Alert as young Aussie mum of two dies of flu

Alert as young Aussie mum of two dies of flu

8-year-old dies of flu outbreak

8-year-old dies of flu outbreak

We tried for one more and got FOUR!

We tried for one more and got FOUR!

A new eye for Annabelle

A new eye for Annabelle

  1. Home
  2. Health

I thought it was only man flu

When Serena's hubby started feeling sick she didn't know he would end up in a coma. - by Jacqueline Mey
  • 08 Nov 2018
I thought it was only man flu

Here Serena Costa, 36, tells the story in her own words. 

 

When my husband Andy, 39, complained of a sore throat and chills, I wasn’t overly worried.

‘It must be man flu,’ I joked, trying to make him smile.

He soon got worse though, having muscle spasms, pain, and a fever.

Scared, I took him to Alfred Hospital, where doctors did blood tests.

When they gave me the results, I was stunned.

‘He’s bad,’ the consultant told me.

A bacterial infection had caused a throat abscess, which had burst, leading to a deep neck space infection.

The infection was spreading around his body, threatening his organs.

We’re not sure he’ll survive,’ he said.

‘Oh my God,’ I cried.

I waited in shock as Andy was wheeled in for emergency surgery.

‘We’ve cleared as much of the infection as we could,’ the surgeon said afterwards. ‘He’s in an induced coma to give his body a chance to heal.’

Still, Andy went downhill.

The bacteria, called Streptococcus anginosus, travelled through his bloodstream and body tissue, shutting down his body, organ by organ.

First it went to his lungs, then his kidneys, then his liver.

In the first 10 days, he had six surgeries as doctors struggled to find the right antibiotics.

Each night, I’d write up what had happened to him that day and text it to his phone so he could read it once he’d recovered.

Hi darling, today was pretty rough. We really wanted your kidneys to start working… I wrote.

I didn’t dare think he might never read it.

He was in intensive care

Andy was in intensive care

Source: Supplied

Finally, after 20 days in intensive care, Andy began to improve.

And after 29 days, he emerged groggily from his coma, requesting a kiwi fruit to eat.

I was both ecstatic and stunned – Andy was strictly a meat and potatoes guy!

He had no idea what had happened to him.

Two and a half weeks later, he came home. He’d lost almost 20 kilos and so much muscle he could barely walk

I returned to work and one day, he rang in tears.

‘I just found the texts you sent me when I was sick,’ he said. ‘I had no idea what you went through.’

‘I’m just glad you’re alive,’ I said.

Deciding he wanted to give back to Alfred Hospital for saving his life, Andy signed up to run a 10km race.

Really! I thought. He could hardly walk!

And before he was sick, his main exercise was lifting schooners in the pub with his mates!

Starting his training, he walked to the shops with me.

It was only five minutes and it exhausted him.

Gradually his fitness improved though, and a year after being admitted to hospital, he ran the race, raising $11,000.

‘I’m proud of you,’ I cried, giving him a big kiss at the finish line.

I’m so grateful to the medical staff who worked tirelessly to save Andy’s life.

We’d not been married very long when he got sick.

Now, thanks to them, we hopefully have a lifetime together.

 

To donate visit -  give.everydayhero.com/au/andy-serena to donate

  • Real Life
  • Health
Jacqueline Mey
Jacqueline Mey
Jacqueline is a Features Writer for that’s life! magazine. Previously working at Prevention, she has published works across Bella, Closer, Take a Break, Real People and that’s life! UK. She is also the host of Girlfriend’s Beauty Boss Podcast.

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Queensland dad-of-three died of the flu

Queensland dad-of-three died of the flu

With 49 people dead from the flu in NSW alone, the toll is set to rise.

With 49 people dead from the flu in NSW alone, the toll is set to rise.

'I'm being strangled alive' Aussie woman's TOOTH put her in a coma

'I'm being strangled alive' Aussie woman's TOOTH put her in a coma

18 days in a coma: How a Perth mum won the fight against coronavirus

18 days in a coma: How a Perth mum won the fight against coronavirus

{headline}

{headline}

Family's heartbreak as teenage girl 'dies from the flu'

Family's heartbreak as teenage girl 'dies from the flu'

Woman wakes up from coma after 28 YEARS!

Woman wakes up from coma after 28 YEARS!

Mum’s warning: My girl got the flu and lost all of her limbs

Mum’s warning: My girl got the flu and lost all of her limbs

{headline}

{headline}

Geoff was feeling fine, but lurking in his blood was a deadly disease.

Geoff was feeling fine, but lurking in his blood was a deadly disease.

Labour horror: I lost all my blood!

Labour horror: I lost all my blood!

My drug addiction was cured by a coma

My drug addiction was cured by a coma

Alert as young Aussie mum of two dies of flu

Alert as young Aussie mum of two dies of flu

8-year-old dies of flu outbreak

8-year-old dies of flu outbreak

We tried for one more and got FOUR!

We tried for one more and got FOUR!

A new eye for Annabelle

A new eye for Annabelle

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life Weekly & Save!