‘Cautiously optimistic’: Mark Briggs’s family welcomes some positive news

Wife Sam: ‘We just have to stay positive and hope things keep going in the right direction.’

Mark Briggs turned 55 on Saturday but there was no cake or candles.

There was, however, some positive news for the father-of-four, who is lying in the intensive care unit of the Rockhampton Hospital.

Doctors took him off the ventilator as he started to show some signs of improvement after having spent four weeks in hospital, three of them in ICUs in Rockhampton and Brisbane.

That Mark made it to his 55th birthday is something of a medical miracle, given that three weeks ago his family was called to the hospital to say their final goodbyes.

He rallied but deteriorated rapidly early last week before fighting back again.

Mark Briggs in the intensive care unit of the Rockhampton Hospital.

Mark has been suffering from a host of life-threatening symptoms and countless tests have been unable to find a cause.

The family is questioning whether the AstraZeneca vaccine could be responsible, and say they've been told his case has been referred to the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) for investigation. 

Mark had the first of his vaccinations on June 15, and just over a week later started to experience symptoms, which included back and chest pain.

Discharge papers from Rockhampton list under the consultation notes: “COVID-19 Adverse Event Following Immunisation reporting completed”.

Wife Sam said while it was a huge relief to have some good news, she remained “cautiously optimistic” given the uncertainty around Mark’s condition.

“It is so good to see improvement but I’m worried because we had this sort of improvement this time last week and he crashed really quickly,” she said.

“Without a diagnosis it’s just hard to know where things are at but we just have to stay positive and hope things keep going in the right direction.

Mark Briggs and wife Sam.

“They took him off the ventilator on Saturday because he had responded really well to the high level of antibiotics he was on.

“His blood pressure is still very high but everything else is holding – his temperature and sugar levels are good and he’s off a lot of medication.”

Sam said she continued to be buoyed by the incredible support from the community.

A mycause site has raised more than $13,500, and ISA Rockhampton is planning two social sports-themed fundraisers on August 6.

Mark was working week on, week off at the mines at Moranbah before he was struck down.

Sam, who is a school teacher, is taking long service leave to be with him but that will run out by mid-September.

“At this stage, we’ve just got to take it day by day,” she said.

“It’s hard to know what’s coming but we’ll just have to work it out when we get there.”