Dad-of-two struck down by mystery stomach bug - now he can’t walk or talk
NOBODY KNOWS WHERE HE CAUGHT IT
A FATHER-OF-TWO who caught a mystery stomach bug is now unable to walk or talk, and has no idea of what the future holds.
Karl Morgan had to be put in an induced coma and on a ventilator after he suddenly took ill.
Struggling to breathe, the 33-year-old was also vomiting and hallucinating.
Doctors discovered he had a bacterial bug infection which had developed into sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, a serious lung condition.
Now out of the induced coma, he has been left unable to walk or talk.
Nobody knows where he picked up the infection. His mum Debbie Fisher, 60, said: “You just can’t imagine what it’s like – we have been there every single day sat at the side of him.
“To see him on the ventilator was just awful – it was absolutely heartbreaking. The doctors said that even though they are here to get him home, they can’t guarantee that would happen. You can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to be told that about your 33-yearold son.”
At the start of his symptoms, Karl began vomiting constantly and developed a 40-degree temperature. His family say his problems were initially dismissed by doctors but, when he started struggling for breath and hallucinating, Debbie called 111, and he was rushed to hospital.
Karl, from Mansfield, was placed in an induced coma on a ventilator. Debbie was told that he might not survive.
While he is now slightly better, he’s still unable to walk or talk and has to use a frame to get around.
Debbie said: “He’s still poorly now – he can’t walk so the physio is trying to get his limbs moving. “He’s got a Zimmer frame – can you imagine how he’s feeling at 33 years old with a Zimmer frame? He was so active before. He’s mentally struggling in there as well.”
Karl is still in hospital and it is currently unknown when he will be able to come out. “He has been warned that he may eventually need a pacemaker or even a heart transplant. Debbie says he is desperate to get back to work as a selfemployed caravan cleaner. “That’s not going to happen as he can’t even stand. He’s always been a window cleaner but now he’s set up a business cleaning caravans. “He’s never claimed benefits in his life. He’s always done something. He was doing brilliantly but he will have to rebuild that.” Debbie has now set up a Gofundme page, as she is trying to raise money for somewhere for Karl to live when he is allowed to leave hospital.