From intensive care to intensive recovery - Isaac's miracle journey

After spending close to four and a half months in Townsville University Hospital’s (TUH) intensive care unit, Isaac Pearce has walked out of ICU and been given the greenlight to see out the rest of his recovery at Rockhampton Hospital’s rehabilitation unit. 

In February, the Gladstone local was at work on a cattle station near Normanton in the state’s northwest, when he complained of a headache and was found unconscious, having contracted the deadly mosquito-borne disease, Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE).

His mother, Mel Jones, barely left his bedside over the course of the 126 days he spent in ICU.

“It just obliterated all his nerves,” Ms Jones said.

“He’s had to learn to walk again, his left side wasn’t very strong, his stomach stopped working, he couldn’t swallow, and it’s messed with his heart for a little bit.

“It’s been set back after set back and then probably just the last month or two he’s started to make some meaningful progress.

“He wouldn’t have been able to do it if it wasn’t for the persistent care of everyone in ICU trying to fix him.”

Mr Pearce said he couldn’t be more thankful to the team of clinicians who have helped pull him through to the other side of his ordeal.

“Everyone has been really good and as I’ve gotten better, I just can’t believe how many people still care,” he said.

“It was pretty rough and even though I was a bit mean sometimes, people still cared.”

Clinical director ICU Dr Siva Senthuran said Mr Pearce’s recovery has been “remarkable” after a difficult course in ICU.

“Isaac came in with this really unusual condition, which resulted in swelling and inflammation of parts of his brain and spinal cord,” Dr Senthuran said.

“It left him very weak, unable to breathe for himself and needing life support.

“For someone who could not walk and could not breathe, to see his progress now, it’s a very heartwarming feeling for the whole team and gives meaning and purpose for everything we do.

With a condition so rare and unpredictable, registered nurse Mel Denton said providing care for Mr Pearce was challenging at times.

“When Isaac first came to us, we weren’t sure what was happening,” she said.

“I was looking after him when he had just been admitted and it was very much hour-by-hour, day-by-day to try and figure out what was happening with him.

“He’s had multiple complications and we just had to deal with it as they were happening.

“It’s just so heartwarming to see his condition improve to the point that he’s walking out of ICU and into another ward.”

Mr Pearce still has a way to go with his recovery; Dr Senthuran suggested it would be measured not by days but in weeks and months.

“It’s certainly shorter now than I would have predicted 120 days ago,” he said.

The transfer to Rockhampton will mean being closer to friends and family.

“It’s a massive milestone as he’ll be one hour away from family,” Ms Jones said.

“Everyone is so excited to see him and encourage him through the rest of his journey.”

Mr Pearce said the lure of getting back to work and riding his motorbike were his main motivations for getting out of hospital sooner rather than later.

“I’m used to being so independent, so it’s been frustrating,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get home, back on the motorbike, drive my car, and get back to work.”