Qld cattle station worker Isaac Pearce gets greenlight to leave Townsville ICU after Murray Valley encephalitis diagnosis
Four months on from the diagnosis that shocked the region, a cattle station worker who contracted an incredibly rare virus has been given the all clear to leave Townsville ICU.
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A Qld cattle station worker who has spent the last four months in an ICU bed after he contracted the extremely rare mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis will now be moved closer to home, after making a stunning recovery.
Isaac Pearce’s sudden diagnosis shocked North Queensland as the last case of MVE in the state was diagnosed in 2005, with only three people being treated for it since but having contracted it elsewhere.
He was taken to Townsville University Hospital after showing symptoms of the deadly virus that started out as a simple headache he complained of to his mum, which started shortly after he began working at a Far North cattle property.
The 25-year-old and his devoted mother Mel Jones have now been given the green light to transfer closer to home and be admitted to Rockhampton Hospital.
Ms Jones said it was “amazing” news and the pair were waiting for the Royal Flying Doctors to take them as soon as they had the chance.
“It just obliterated all his nerves,” she said when talking about the sudden diagnosis.
“He’s had to learn to walk again, his left side wasn’t very strong, his stomach stopped working, he couldn’t swallow, and it’s messed with his heart for a little bit.
“It’s been set back after set back and then probably just the last month or two he’s started to make some meaningful progress.”
Miss Jones spoke with the Townsville Bulletin after the news of the shocking diagnosis broke, and thanked the region for their support after a GoFundMe raised more than $16,000 to help her stay by her son’s bedside.
She said if it weren’t for the staff at Townsville’s ICU, her and her son wouldn’t have been able to get through it.
‘I just can’t believe how many people still care’ - Isaac Pearce
Mr Pearce himself said he was incredibly thankful to the clinicians who helped him.
“Everyone has been really good and as I’ve gotten better, I just can’t believe how many people still care,” he said.
“It was pretty rough and even though I was a bit mean sometimes, people still cared.”
The young man said the diagnosis had been “frusterating” as he was used to being so indpeendant.
“I can’t wait to get home, back on the motorbike, drive my car and get back to work,” he said.
However it’s still a long road ahead for Mr Pearce as the Clinical Director of ICU Dr Siva Senthuran said that his recovery still has weeks and months to go.
“It’s certainly shorter now than I would have predicted 120 days ago,” he said.
He called Mr Pearce’s journey so far “remarkable” having undergone such a complex course.
“Isaac came in with this really unusual condition, which resulted in swelling and inflammation of parts of his brain and spinal cord,” the doctor said.
“It left him very weak, unable to breathe for himself and needing life support.
“For someone who could not walk and could not breathe, to see his progress now, it’s a very heartwarming feeling for the whole team and gives meaning and purpose for everything we do.”
Registered nurse Mel Denton who provided care for Mr Pearce said it was challenging as they couldn’t be certain what was happening due to the rare nature of the virus.
“I was looking after him when he had just been admitted and it was very much hour-by-hour, day-by-day to try and figure out what was happening with him,” she said.
“It’s just so heartwarming to see his condition improve to the point that he’s walking out of ICU and into another ward.”
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Originally published as Qld cattle station worker Isaac Pearce gets greenlight to leave Townsville ICU after Murray Valley encephalitis diagnosis
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