Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeing a doctor when necessary or periodically can be preventative. Recently, news broke about a British man who was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain abscess after a crack in his tooth became infected. “It was strange because I had no pain or swelling in my mouth to tell me anything was wrong,” Graham Bell (61 years old) said of his broken tooth.
A stroke was ruled out, but Graham underwent life-saving neurosurgery
According to reports, the infection couldn’t be treated with antibiotics because the patient wasn’t alerted by the pain; it was a series of coincidences. A stroke was ruled out, but Graham ultimately underwent life-saving neurosurgery after a mass was discovered in the brain in the following days. Bell underwent surgery in mid-March at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, a hospital in Liverpool, U.K.
According to Graham’s wife, Sue, the couple were preparing to head to Wales for the day when he started complaining of bad headaches. Sue also noticed Graham’s face ‘had fallen on one side’, so they decided to call an ambulance. “By this point Graham had deteriorated greatly. The ambulance brought us to The Walton Centre, and once there I knew it was serious,” Sue told the post.
“The team was so professional, but it was obvious that speed was of the essence”
The result was a 3-centimeter abscess in Graham’s brain as he was admitted for emergency surgery, the release stated. “Graham was prepped for surgery right away. The team was so professional, but it was obvious that speed was of the essence,” Sue said. In many cases, this happens; acting quickly and effectively can prevent tragic outcomes. So when we feel something is wrong with our body, it’s best not to wait, but to immediately consult an expert.
The minutes before surgery were essential. “It was a lot of information to take in a short time. I had the family around me, but I think we were all in a bit of shock. I was not well, so finding out what was going on quickly was key for all of us,” Graham Bell said.
Graham was able to undergo surgery immediately and successfully, despite later problems. “The first operation to essentially drain the abscess was a success, and Graham began to improve,” the hospital noted, adding that his condition worsened days later after he contracted sepsis.
As the experts say, sepsis occurs when your immune system has a dangerous reaction to an infection. “It causes extensive inflammation throughout your body that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death,” the Cleveland Clinic says and ads: “Many different kinds of infections can trigger sepsis, which is a medical emergency. The quicker you receive treatment, the better your outcome will be.”
“It was bizarre because I had no pain or swelling in my mouth to tell me there was something wrong”
Graham, spent six weeks recovering at the hospital, “It was bizarre because I had no pain or swelling in my mouth to tell me there was something wrong,” he said. Sue, Bell’s wife said that he “still has issues with communicating and moving around after surgery and treatment, but the family are following the therapy and on our way to getting back as close to normal as possible.”
This case shows us how swift action is essential to attack problems at their root. “The hospital saved his life. For that there is nothing we can do to thank them enough,” Sue said after the operation. For their part, the family has done everything possible to raise money for the surgery and hospitalization costs. Graham’s children raised over $4,200 by doing a sponsored walk to raise money for The Walton Centre Charity.
