22 August

More than seven months is a long time to stay in one place for anyone, particularly for Dean who spent the last 230 days in Austin Hospital fighting for this life.

Earlier this month he was finally able to go home.

At the end of 2022, Dean became unwell with what he thought was a stomach bug or food-poisoning and after no improvement after a few days he told his partner to call an ambulance – he knew something wasn’t right.

He laid down in bed while he waited and woke up a few days later in Austin Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A split decision to seek help likely saved his life.

Dean was diagnosed with necrotising pancreatitis, a condition where your pancreas or tissues around it begins to die. In Dean’s case, gallstones are thought to be the cause.

Suffering both kidney and liver failure, his first month was filled with complications, an induced coma and uncertainty about whether he would survive.

“We didn’t really expect my stay to be so long and after having several chats with the doctors they kept mentioning that it would be a very lengthy stay and that I was very very sick,” Dean said.

“It was scary thinking about laying in a bed for months and months and waiting for the body to recover. It’s so touch and go.”

The months that followed were not smooth sailing. Dean had parts of his pancreas and almost all of his gallbladder removed as well as suffering from two pancreatitis flareups, meaning his recovery went right back to base level and he essentially needed to start again.

However, his positive attitude never faltered.

“A lot of nurses and psychiatric staff were surprised at how positive I remained, but I couldn’t see the point in letting it get you down. I think it’s important to your healing too.”

Despite being away from his home and normal life for such a long time, Dean found the silver linings and found refuge in the people he was spending every day with.

“I formed a really good relationship with the majority of the nurses and Patient Service Assistants. You certainly do become part of the team and part of the furniture."

While Dean still has months of rehabilitation ahead of him, he sees improvements in his health every day.