Portarlington tiler David Jurisic battles meningitis and encephalitis

A Portarlington man thought he had food poisoning. But five weeks later, he is fighting for his life in intensive care as he battles two rare diseases.

Portarlington tradie and avid fisherman David Jurisic is battling two rare diseases in intensive care.

A Portarlington tradie is in the fight of his life as he battles two rare diseases.

David Jurisic has spent five weeks in intensive care in Geelong hospital after being diagnosed with meningitis and encephalitis in September.

Both diseases cause inflammation around the brain and spinal cord and are typically caused by infections.

Mr Jurisic, a tiler and avid fisherman, thought he had food poisoning for two days before his long term partner Leeanne took him to St John of God hospital on September 5.

The 45-year-old was given some fluid for dehydration and sent home to rest.

But another two days later, Mr Jurisic’s condition failed to improving and he was struggling with blurred vision, nausea and swollen feet.

He went back to hospital and was given more fluids and antibiotics but continued to worsen after he was sent home and even started to hallucinate.

Portarlington tradie and avid fisherman David Jurisic is battling two rare diseases in intensive care.

Mr Jurisic then collapsed on September 10 and was rushed to Geelong hospital.

An MRI on his brain showed he had meningitis and encephalitis and he was taken to the intensive care unit to be monitored by a team of specialists.

While in hospital, he has undergone several plasma transfusions to boost the good cells in his body to be able to fight off the cells making him unwell.

Mr Jurisic’s mate Steve Di Sauro said it was a shock to find out his mate was fighting for his life.

“I thought he was mad at me because we speak twice a day and I couldn’t get a hold of him,” he said.

“I thought something was wrong and then I was told he was in hospital.”

“I was in tears when I found out.

“At the start, we thought he wasn’t going to make it because he couldn’t breathe on his own and they put him into an induced coma.”

Mr Di Sauro said his mate had been “taking two steps forward, then one back”.

“He is making progress,” he said.

“It is looking like he might be in a wheelchair.”

Mr Jurisic has a long road to recovery, which may include physiotherapy and speech therapy, but doctors say he has a good chance of recovering.

The Bellarine community have rallied around Mr Jurisic and his partner and have raised more than $25,000 for the couple to go towards bills and medical expenses.

A Go Fund Me page, titled ‘Help David and Leeanne’, has also been set up.

“He is the sort of guy who would do anything for anyone,” Mr Di Sauro said.

Originally published as Portarlington tiler David Jurisic battles meningitis and encephalitis