Michelle Johnson: Mildura mum recovering after horrific diagnosis

A Mildura teacher spent Easter without her partner and son as she recovers from health issues which had nothing to do with her initial Covid diagnosis.

A Mildura teacher spent Easter without her partner and son as she recovers from a hole in her brain 500km from her home.

Michelle Johnson, who is receiving treatment in Melbourne, was rushed to The Alfred hospital in February after being diagnosed with a Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak.

Ms Johnson was diagnosed with Covid before her partner, Shane, found her delirious in the backyard; climbing the fence, disoriented, confused and unable to answer questions.

An ambulance arrived and Ms Johnson was rushed to Mildura’s hospital where she was placed in an induced coma.

After five days in the coma and two days heavily sedate, Ms Johnson was diagnosed with streptococcus, pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. She already had Covid.

“I felt quite disoriented when I woke from the coma and thought that they had converted my home into a hospital ward,” she said.

“I honestly thought they were going to discharge me from the hospital soon and life would return to normal.”

After a doctor noticed fluid coming from her nose, she was also diagnosed with a Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (CSF).

After a week at Mildura’s hospital, Michelle was expecting to be discharged with a follow-up appointment in Melbourne but she woke extremely unwell.

“My blood pressure had risen, my temperature was high and my pulse was also very fast. The doctor said I needed to be put straight back on IV antibiotics and stay in the hospital,” she said.

Michelle Johnson is a teacher at Mildura’s Henderson College and is eager to return to her partner, Shane, and son, Thomas.

Two weeks after her arrival at the hospital doctors received an urgent call from The Alfred saying Ms Johnson needed to be flown immediately.

“An experienced doctor had looked at my MRI results again and found the brain infection along with pus on my brain,” she said.

“I did not have seven hours to travel by road, and therefore flying was the only option.”

Ms Johnson underwent six hours of surgery to pack the hole and after the operation was told she would not be able to breathe through her nose for three weeks.

“They also said I was not allowed to cry, sneeze or strain as this could mess up the repair. I would also have no taste or smell for quite a while,” she said.

After more than a month since the beginning of the “nightmare” Ms Johnson was allowed to leave hospital and is now receiving hospital at home care at her brother Shane’s Melbourne property.

Since being discharged Ms Johnson has attended the hospital regularly, including getting the packing from surgery removed.

“I was told my sense of taste would return but that I may never be able to smell again,” she said.

Ms Johnson’s partner and son had to return home to Mildura while Michelle remained in Melbourne.

“I wasn’t allowed to cry when they left because of the surgery which was really hard,” she said.

Ms Johnson said the hardest part was being separated from her partner and son.

“It has been absolutely heartbreaking,” she said.

“The fact that Thomas (her son) just started prep when this all happened has heightened my sadness as I feel I have missed months of such an important milestone.”

To donate to Ms Johnson’s GoFundMe, click here.