Sydney nurse in coma after patient coughed on him, family says
RUSSELL Marsh told his wife how a patient coughed on him at hospital. Two days later he fell ill with a fever and now remains on life support.
ONE day Russell Marsh was happy. Now he remains in a coma fighting for his life.
The Sydney nurse told his wife, Helen, that a critically ill patient had coughed on him — and just two days later came down with a high fever.
The 39-year-old has spent the past two weeks on life support in Sydney’s RPA Hospital.
Writing on a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her brother-in-law, Jasmine Nguyen said the adoring father-of-one remains critically ill, has developed acute kidney failure and is currently on dialysis.
Ms Nguyen said his health deteriorated quickly after the patient coughed on him on February 12.
“Four days later, Russell took time off work as he was experiencing shortness of breath and difficulties breathing,” she said.
He was taken to the emergency department where doctors found he wasn’t getting enough oxygen to his brain and body.
“Less than 24 hours later, Russell was placed on life support, where he remains today, due to acute respiratory failure, caused by possible pneumonia,” Ms Nguyen said.
His devastated family say he has never experienced any other health problems and his young son Ronan was reeling from the sudden illness.
Ms Nguyen also said he lived for his son Ronan, who was a much-wanted IVF baby.
“We are praying he makes it through this, and although he may suffer ongoing neurological issues and require ongoing mobility rehabilitation, we all want him to recover and be able to spend many more precious years with his wife and son who mean the world to him,” she said.
Ms Nguyen said the family were hoping and praying for an improvement and started the campaign to help her sister with the ongoing medical costs.
To donate or help the family visit Gofundme.
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