He was rushed to intensive care and will be hospital for some time
Cardiff was in the intensive care unit for almost three weeks
A dad-of-three has been in hospital for more than three weeks after a severe reaction to treatment used after a routine operation to remove his tonsils. Cardiff Dicdican had a tonsillectomy at Medway Maritime Hospital on January 10, but soon after he started to experience unexplained “repeated and severe bleeding episodes”.
The 37-year-old had been given steroid medication to treat complications following the throat surgery. He had to undergo an emergency procedure on January 16, but on the evening of January 19, his wife Jessica says he started to bleed again – and lost almost two litres of blood. It is a rare complication that only happens in two to five per cent of cases, and Jessica says doctors were unsure why the bleeding occurred.
She rushed him from their home in Dartford to the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough, where he was taken to the resuscitation unit and lost consciousness. Research nurse Jessica explained: “Everything just got turned upside down. He was given IV fluids, medications to control the bleeding, and also a blood transfusion.
“The intensive care unit (ICU) consultant explained that he urgently needed to return to theatre once again, but while waiting for surgery, the safest place for him was the ICU, where he could receive specialised care.”
Cardiff, who works as a warehouse operative for Amazon, was intubated and sedated, and on January 22 he underwent another surgery. Despite surgeons being able to fix the bleeding, they noticed significant swelling in his right tonsillar bed and he was put on Dexamethasone, a steroid used to treat inflammatory conditions.
However, he then developed a “severe reaction” to the steroid and was in the ICU at the hospital up until Saturday (February 7). He remains at the hospital, and is now in the medical ward. Jessica said the experience has been overwhelming, particularly as she recently gave birth and is caring for their three children, Francesca, 10, Mikki, eight, and eight-month-old Flynn.
But, her husband has now started showing gradual signs of improvement and she has finally been able to speak to him. Jessica, 38, said: “It’s been totally distressing. They just took out the tube and they’re slowly weaning down those medications I can actually talk to him now, but he is still very weak and currently unable to eat solid food or stand on his own yet.
“They did also manage to sit him up in the bed, but after a few hours he gets really tired. He still needs some physiotherapy and he still can’t swallow but he’s fully awake now. Now at least all the distress has been replaced with release and happiness as he is starting to get better”.
At this stage, she is still unsure when her husband will be discharged from the hospital, and is expecting him to remain for at least a few more weeks. She said the situation has taken an emotional toll on their children, particularly their eldest daughter, adding: “She’s really affected and gets teary-eyed easily, she keeps saying she really misses her dad.”
Jessica has launched a Gofundme to help support her family while her husband remains in hospital. “There’s just a lot of uncertainty at the moment,” she said. “Cardiff is on sick pay, but that will only continue until February 10. So it’s really not enough for the five of us.
“We’re hoping to bring in a relative to help us with the baby, because at the moment, I have to find a friend or a family member that can look after him so I can go to the hospital. Financially, honestly speaking, we don’t have that much. Part of the funds that we receive is going to be used to pay our rent, and then all of our other needs.”
Jessica says the pair, who have been married for almost 16 years are “really grateful” for everyone who supported them, adding: “It’s been a really big help. “I have so much gratitude for everyone who is helping. I also hope that it serves as an inspiration for everybody not to give up, because even in the darkest moment, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
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