Man credits hospital with survival after 427 visits and amputation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 23:02 · Archive

A 53-year-old Queensland man who has survived sepsis 25 times in 15 years has become an ambassador for the hospital he credits with his survival.

Jon Twartz, a 53-year-old Queensland father of two, first contracted sepsis almost 15 years ago after developing an infected blister. Since then, he has survived the life-threatening condition approximately 25 more times and been admitted to hospital 427 times, including for fortnightly treatments.

His medical journey has taken a severe toll. He has lost four toes and one leg to infection and diabetes, shed 73 kilograms, and developed an autoimmune disorder said to affect only 600 Australians. He has also contracted a bacterial skin infection called cellulitis 22 times. Mr Twartz estimates that taxpayers have spent $2 million keeping him alive.

Despite the odds, Mr Twartz has committed to giving back. This year he became a community ambassador for the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, a role he accepted before the representative had finished asking. Alongside community radio work and volunteering as Santa, he said his way of repaying his debt was to 'do whatever I can bloody well damn do for my community'. He credits the hospital near his home in Brighton, north Brisbane, with his repeated survival, saying he has spent roughly a full year of his life within its walls.

How it is being reported

• 'Incredible human' goes from critical to comic reliefAfter 427 hospital visits, a leg amputation and three turns on the "wheel of death", a man is giving back to the hospital he credits with his unlikely recovery.The West Australian · 23 Oct, 22:32
• 'Incredible human' goes from critical to comic reliefAfter 427 hospital visits, a leg amputation and three turns on the "wheel of death", a man is giving back to the hospital he credits with his unlikely recovery.Perth Now · 23 Oct, 22:32

In this story: Jon Twartz · Prince Charles Hospital · Brisbane · Brighton · Queensland

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