The community is rallying to support a family affected by tragedy.
A fundraiser has been launched for a Vancouver firefighter who lost a leg after contracting flesh-eating disease overseas.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) Deputy Chief Christopher Wong was on a family vacation in Hong Kong with his partner Marie Hui when he developed severe symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis, also known as “meat-eating disease.” I started experiencing it.
Hui, who often sings the national anthem at Vancouver Canucks games, shared an image of Wong in a hospital bed holding a bouquet of flowers from Mayor Ken Sim and Vancouver City Council in an Instagram post. She explained that her partner had undergone a “horrific series of surgeries” due to an infection, which resulted in “the amputation of her leg above the knee”.
He added that doctors “fought so hard” that the Vancouver woman almost didn’t make it out of the surgery alive.
Hui also shared a message from Wong, who expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support from her hometown.
“I never imagined that my situation would be known to the mayor and city council. I’m so grateful and can’t wait to go home and thank you all in person,” he said.
GoFundMe campaign launched for Vancouver firefighters
a GoFundMe campaign It was launched by Linda Broda, a close friend of Wong and Hui. She said Wong has served the people of Vancouver as a firefighter for more than 20 years and the family needs support to rebuild their lives after the tragedy.
Although he had medical insurance during the trip, Wong will need to buy a prosthetic leg and undergo rehabilitation once he returns to Vancouver. He will also be unemployed.
As of this writing, the “Help Chris Rebuild After Emergency Amputation” campaign has raised $122,523.
Fire Chief Karen Fry told VIA that VFRS is “obviously concerned” about Wong and his family’s long distance from Vancouver and the people who want to help them.
“At Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, we are one big family and whenever someone is in need, we come together to support and help,” she said.
“Christopher is one of the strongest, most resilient and dedicated people we know. We know he will overcome any obstacle he encounters. I know.”
Fry thanked the community for the “outpouring of support” as well as the support of VFRS staff and friends.
How do meat-eating diseases develop?
Strep A infections usually cause a mild illness, such as strep throat or a skin rash, and most people recover with antibiotics.
However, when the infection becomes invasive (iGAS), it can cause life-threatening pneumonia, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Center (VIDC), told VIA that flesh-eating disease is a “rapidly progressive disease” with no incubation period, meaning Wong likely contracted the disease in Hong Kong. He said he is doing so.
Conway said there is “no clear biological explanation” for why some people develop serious infections with streptococcus A. Even if people have “perfectly normal” and healthy immune systems, they can still develop life-threatening complications. However, these infections are extremely rare, occurring in only 4 out of 1 million people per year in British Columbia.
With files from Graeme Wood
