COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – For the past five years, everyday tasks like washing the dishes have been a challenge for Rick Thompson, who is a quadruple amputee.
But that’s all about to change.
Thompson was only given a 5 per cent chance of life after contracting sepsis and bacterial meningitis.
The medical nightmare started in 2015 when Richard came home early from work thinking he just had the flu.
“I decided to just sleep it off thinking it was a 24-hour bug. I woke up a few hours later, thirsty, decided to go downstairs and get a glass of water,” he says. “When I stood up, though, my feet were on fire, and I could barely walk. I struggled to make it downstairs and the last thing I remember is collapsing on the floor.”
Six weeks later, Richard woke up in the hospital with the option of having all four limbs amputated or being moved to palliative care to pass away.
“I was still a little confused due to the medication that I’ve been on. So my wife Rita had to actually draw a picture of a stick person on a whiteboard, missing the hands and feet and pointing to me,” he says. “Indicating to me that’s what was gonna happen if I wanted to live.”
Richard and his wife Rita are moving to London, Ontario to receive the transplant once a donor becomes available.
He says it’s a procedure that’s never been done in B.C., or Canada, and Ontario doctors will be the first to attempt this.
“We will be leaving in April to move to Ontario and hopefully by the end of summer, we will have the transplants done.”
The move to Ontario is expensive and the family is trying to raise around $60,000.
That money will also go towards moving back to BC after surgery and rehabilitation.
Despite the challenges, Thompson says there have been some positives.
He says his relationship with his wife has never been stronger and he’s gained a new perspective on life.
“It makes you aware of how precious life is. And you don’t worry about the little things anymore.”