The mother of a woman who recently moved to Melbourne is in a critical condition in hospital after contracting a flesh-eating illness.
Carmel Rodrigo, 74, was visiting Australia for the first time from Sri Lanka when she became ill just six months into her trip.
She was visiting her daughter Gayathri Perera, who had relocated to Essendon with her husband and three young children last year.
Rodrigo was rushed to hospital after she started deteriorating rapidly.
“She was really happy to be here, but suddenly she told me she felt like she had a fever,” Perera told 9News.
“I gave her some Panadol and she was sleeping all day. About 10pm, she began howling with so much pain.
“I was helping her but nothing worked.
“I checked her hand in the morning and I took her to my GP.
“They said this was an emergency case and we took her to the hospital.
“She couldn’t even walk.”
Within hours at Sunshine Hospital, Perera was told doctors were doing everything they could to save her mother’s life.
“They said it was an infection, and they had to take her to do an operation,” she said.
“She was unconscious by then and she was fighting for her life. Doctors said to pray.
“I was praying and the doctors couldn’t confirm what type of infection it was.”
Three days later, doctors discovered Rodrigo had contracted a flesh-eating disease called Buruli ulcer.
About 363 Buruli ulcer cases were diagnosed across the state, the highest recorded since 2004.
The Buruli ulcer is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans and destroys skin cells, small blood vessels and fat under the skin, leading to infection, ulcers and skin loss.
“It’s a nightmare and it’s an unforeseen situation, I pray no one will ever get this sickness,” Perera said.
Her mother remains in hospital and had her left hand amputated last week.
“She has terrible pain still,” Perera said.
“For her comfort, we had to sedate her.”
A fundraiser has been set up for the family to help with medical costs, estimated to be more than $200,000.
“We are going through a hard financial crisis at the moment, it’s unbearable,” she said.
“We have three kids and it’s hard to balance everything.”
