Limbs or your life? The hardest decision Mick O’Dowd ever faced | Australian Story (update)

Mick O’Dowd has survived the unthinkable. Four years ago, he contracted a sepsis infection and nearly died. He paid a high price to live: the amputation of his limbs.
Three years since first speaking with Australian Story, Mick O’Dowd and his family reveal how far they’ve come: Mick is gradually gaining some independence, chaperoning the kids to their after-school activities and learning to drive again.
And he’s back doing some of the things he loves - swimming, scuba diving and even sailing!
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[@shahwilloughby4603]

Wow Mick what a legend you are!!! And that wife of yours is a bloody keeper!!! Wishing you all the very best 💗💗💗.

[@36kaitlyn]

Loved the courage and the bravery of Mick O'Dowd. I am in a similar situation with my hubby so I found your sory hopeful and encouraging. Thanks for sharing.

[@NickanM]

It is seven months since you wrote this post. _I just want to say that I hope that everything turned out OK in the end and that you are happy._ ❤

[@myfabulouslifewithlupus]

I survived both this type of sepsis and a few years later the almost unheard of in the USA necrotising fasciitis or flesh eating bacteria; I am blessed to say I have all limbs intact with only serval incisions from where they needed to open my hand and arm to debride/remove dead tissue. Though I am in a motorized wheelchair for other health complications, I can't thank my God and my doctors enough, now even more grateful I didn't progress to this stage. I commend this family for the love and courage they showed through this crisis and send them love and wishes for a blessed life together going forward.

[@jeanettedavis7304]

God bless you and your family

[@joannemates6367]

What an awe inspiring man and such a beautiful family. I wish you nothing but love, laughter, strength and peace, moving forward.

[@a-k6575]

Mick's 'will' to live is 'Absolutely' inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

[@mistyfrick8355]

I had sepsis last May 2022. They tried telling me I had a kidney infection, UTI ect. I don’t wish this pain on anyone. Sending you love and support from USA

[@slh950]

I hope you are okay now

[@irenedemarco1354]

Ive seen this gents story prior, but this is such a tribute to strength and courage....and love... Such an inspiration in the face of so much heartache... Thank you for sharing your journey... 💞✌️🙏

[@wendyrobertson3899]

Good on you Mick! I can see how gaining your independent life is important for you. I can see how Gaining confidence through trial and error is the only way to get past the stumbling blocks toward the independent life you want. Just watching you has inspired me to push my doctors to get them to do better for me, to be my advocates not my nemesis. Thank you for sharing your story

[@yvonnekneeshaw2784]

Seriously thankful for this family to share exp with sepsis & to be aware of its dangers. Thankful for family who reached out with similar exp. Community matters. Mental health plays a huge role in such trauma. 🙏🏻 🇨🇦❤️

[@corvettesbme]

Wonderful!❤ I love this posting!

[@WonderfulSurfboards-rw9hu]

what an absolute legend mick you are so strong and your wife is a beautiful person a story of absolute courage 👍 all the best for the future

[@kimberlybarrett4537]

I deteriorated overnight with poorly treated pneumonia. I went to sleep, and didn’t wake up in the morning. I was in a coma for three weeks. Gracias a Dios, there was nothing wrong with me afterwards, except for losing one half of a toe.

[@NickanM]

Darn, you were lucky . Condolences to your toe tip though....

[@nithinnaidu4823]

Kathryn o'dowd, your courage and strength is unparalleled. More power to you.

[@moonlighteternal8024]

A very inspiring story !

[@marthabohnen115]

You are just an amazing family!Stay strong and may God give you the strength to navigate life.

[@deborahhayman8780]

What an amazing family, it certainly puts life in perspective. God bless you all,

[@missychan63]

I almost lost a dear friend of mine to sepsis, and even though at the time I was part of the medical community, I had no idea what the signs or symptoms were or truly how quickly things could go wrong. On Thursday she thought she might be getting the flu (She was 8 months out of breast cancer treatment so we tended to be a little overly cautious.), but thought she was okay. By Friday afternoon she was in the ICU and they told me she probably wouldn't make it to Saturday. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?" I drove home from the hospital in utter shock- "She was fine Wednesday and I'm planning her funeral on Saturday? What just happened?" Luckily, instead of losing her, I picked her up from the hospital Saturday because she was doing so amazingly well that there was no reason for her to even stay on a regular Ward. It's as if she were never sick, which is another scary part of sepsis. One minute you're fine, the next minute you are literally fighting for your life and a minute later you're on your way home with a fairly clean bill of health... Unbelievable. Mick's story ( and Matt's too) is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.... And it just shows what the love of a family can do. I laughed when he was able to go sailing and I sobbed when he was able to go diving... What an amazing human being with an amazing family pushing him forward. All my love to all of them!!❤

[@kaleheidke5232]

Great men great woman great people helping.! Stay strong.!

[@curtismonkelien1223]

Both spouses were extradordinary!

[@francescaroat2076]

What brave men are they!

[@adrianlivingstone8520]

I suffered from sepsis over 5 times in the last 18 months and I am now and have been since March 23 on broad-spectrum antibiotics till October of this year. The permanent muscle and nerve damage pain is on a scale between 1 and 10, often 15 or more, Palexia and Panadol Osteo are my only salvation, though due to Type 2 Diabetes, I am unable to take large doses as my kidneys are weakened from this ordeal. The doctors and health professionals are still unable to say where I got the Sepsis from. I can only walk very short distances with the aid of 2 walking sticks all the while enduring horrific pain. It has got so bad that thoughts of suicide are a constant companion. Recently that same pain has started in a few of my fingertips and arms. Truly I think sometimes that death would be far better.

[@FranEssex]

Awe inspiring! Just a thought but would some custom made paddles for the arms help with the scuba diving 🤷‍♀️ Keep going Mick 😊🙏🙏

[@francescaroat2076]

I send you a great great embrace from Italy!

[@starcrusherr]

His wife is an angel

[@michaellake5269]

I left comments on your previous video. I am so glad that you are doing well. As I mentioned before, I thought I had a terrible flu. What I remember, as strange as it sounds, is that the hair on my head made the pain excruciating in some unexplainable way. Sepsis is a very strange illness. Godspeed to you, my unknown friend.

[@michaellake5269]

I'm not looking for sympathy, because I survived, but I was told that my white blood count was the highest any of the doctors or nurses have ever seen. Being told that without treatment I would have died within 24 hours was scary beyond belief. This killer disease is not to be taken lightly. I have gone so far as to include The Sepsis Foundation in my will.

[@learningvideosbynikhil8308]

He's the best! I don't know why but the glasses make him kind of cute lol

[@MAMethven]

I went into hospital for a back problem and found out I had sepsis while I was there. At the time I never knew that I could've lost limbs. Anyway I got through it fine and recovered well.

[@kelligatenby7763]

You re so brave……Wife.💜❤️💜💖

[@mathewtoll6780]

How come the ABC allows conversation under some videos and closes it down for others?

[@trishstevenson3022]

depends on which way the comments are going i think

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

I wouldn't want to live without my limbs. Sometimes Death is not the worst thing that can happen to you.

[@shahedctgbd]

i am another one and i have been in hospital for 9 months

[@janrandle2896]

Hope you make a good recovery

[@mayam6678]

A good rain would help about now!

[@EarthFirstGoVegan]

I’m all about quality, not quantity of life. I’d rather be dead than having to live like that.

[@sunnyday7843]

How did he get it ? The infection ?

[@irenedemarco1354]

A very common sore throat that converted into sepsis... He felt unwell and had deep deep pain in his buttock that pain relief did not work on...

[@mollyfenn3057]

😊

[@WestVirginia1959]

One of these super-rich people should give him a self-driving car. ❤

[@NickanM]

_Super rich people would've be super rich if they did things like that. Unfortunately, you don't become a multi millionaire by being a nice, genuine person._ 😢

[@Butter_bread_]

Why do u block comments about indigenous voice? If you talk about peoples opinions then don’t block it…… it’s ironic you don’t let people post their opinions.

[@johne3735]

Where did this occure? On this vid?

[@callumfreebairn8082]

why was she resentful? who could she blame?

[@matthewlepak2878]

Jesus bless us all. Amen. Jesus healed my sepsis

[@gottabesometime6632]

MICK YOU DA MAN....if anyone come out the otherside....IT'S YOU !!!!