A Florida man was left fighting for his life after contracting a flesh-eating disease during his Bahamian vacation.
Brian Roush, 62, and his girlfriend, Tonia Buford Stinson, travelled to the sun-soaked paradise to celebrate the New Year.
But within just hours of returning home, he was admitted to the hospital and has been a patient ever since.
Roush was enjoying the vacation when he tripped over and scraped his ankle.
Thinking nothing of it, he cleaned it up and went on with the day’s activities, which included swimming with pigs.
His daughter, Brittany Roush, told WFLA that once he arrived home, her father suddenly became very sick and ultimately unresponsive.
Roush’s ankle ‘erupted into blisters’ and he was admitted to Broward Hospital, where he was immediately intubated and placed on a ventilator.
‘The doctor suspected flesh-eating bacteria, necrotizing fasciitis, got him into emergency surgery to remove fluid,’ Brittany said.
Brian Roush contracted a flesh-eating infection while on vacation with his girlfriend in the Bahamas
After cutting his leg, Roush went on with his vacation which included swimming with pigs
Roush lives in Fort Lauderdale with his long term girlfriend Tonia Buford Stinson (right)
Most of the skin from his ankle had to be removed all the way down to the bone to rid him of the infection.
Roush was given a less than ten percent chance of survival.
The Cleveland Clinic describes necrotizing fasciitis as a ‘flesh-eating disease’.
It is a rapidly spreading bacterial infection of tissue beneath the skin, contracted via open wounds.
According to a GoFundMe, the family started to support Roush’s medical expenses, he had no clear symptoms of the infection, but the doctor’s quick thinking ‘saved his life’.
‘His lungs, kidneys and his liver all failed throughout the week before he was able to start recovering,’ Brittany said.
After a week of antibiotics, much of his infection cleared. His kidneys have yet to recover, resulting in daily dialysis.
‘You just can’t explain the experience of seeing your loved one so weak and feeble,’ Brittany said. ‘It’s been very, very difficult.’
Roush has undergone multiple surgeries and treatments while being in the hospital for more than a month.
Roush and his girlfriend (right) were celebrating the New Year in the Bahamas but within hours of returning he wound up in the hospital
Roush had infections in his lungs, kidneys and liver and even contracted secondary infections from his lengthy hospital stay
He suffered heart damage and secondary infection, even losing his ability to walk and the use of most of his limbs.
Roush developed severe ICU myopathy, severe muscle weakness, which required multiple blood transfusions.
Despite the painful procedures and non-stop treatment, Roush’s family said he has been in good spirits.
‘He is doing his best to maintain a positive attitude despite waking up to this nightmare,’ they wrote.
‘Cracking jokes and lavishing compliments on the nursing staff so they keep the ice water flowing.’
Brittany hoped her father would be transferred to a rehabilitation facility this week, where he will likely stay for up to six months.
The Daily Mail contacted the Roush family for comment.
