Marlow man battles mystery illness in Far East hospital

Steve 'Billy' Budd who has spent the last 11 years teaching English at Chinese universities was rushed into the local Military Hospital in Lanzhou last September.

Steve became delirious as his body battled with a vicious infection which also caused him heart problems.

RECAP: Person arrested for drug driving following M40 multi-car crash

In recent months, he has been assisted with oxygen and undergone many tests to try and diagnose his condition.

Steve has been in hospital for over four months

Doctors are still unsure of the reason behind the collapse with Steve’s sister, Sarah Budd, told it could have been a chest infection, a UTI and on one day was informed it was multiple organ failure and “he only had hours to lives”.

Doctors also believe he had “whole brain damage” after he was found unresponsive.

In the early weeks he had two lumbar punctures, body scans, received bags of saline to restore his severe dehydration, was fed via a tube into his stomach.

READ MORE: Confusion over KFC delays as opening STILL NOT CONFIRMED

However, Steve is now on the mend and “managed to pull through the worst of it” and is described as being “very stable”.

Earlier this month he was moved to a hospital in Hong Kong where all the staff speak English meaning his sister Sarah, 57, has had more regular updates on his condition.

She said: “Because I was the first point of contact from anyone in China and one in the front line, it’s been the most stressful thing ever because it has changed from day to day.

“Certainly, the first few months because his health was up and down and we thought we were going to lose him a couple times.”

Sarah has been raising money to help pay for Steve's medical bills

When he was admitted to his hospital in Hon Kong Steve was still in a state of confusion with doctors saying malnutrition and very low electrolytes could be cause of the delirium.

His feeding tube was placed in the wrong position so was replaced in an attempt to build his nutrition up again.

ALSO READ: Marlow's Royal British Legion recognised for work during Remembrance period

Sarah has now spoken with him on a video call saying “he looks a much better colour and is able to have a two-way conversation, and I can see his memory is improving too.”

She added: “He was quite grouchy and said he’s had enough of being prodded, not able to get out of bed, nothing to read, and can’t even eat something like a bar of chocolate!

“It was hard for me to hear him so fed up, but it’s reassuring to know that he’s much more aware of his situation now so I’ve tried to explain that it hopefully won’t be for much longer.”

Sarah has helped raise over £18,000 to help pay Steve’s medical bills which the family have to pay for.

Around £10,000 of the money raised has already been used to pay for the Lanzhou Hospital ICU fees before he left for Hong Kong

Steve also needed to quarantine in a Hong-Kong for 7 days adding another £3000 to the costs.

READ MORE: This is when Lidl will open its new store in Marlow

If Steve has to stay in the Hong Kong Hospital for another two weeks the cost will run to another £12,000.

There are now hopes that he will be able to return on February 4 as on going coronavrius restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong government are reportedly set to ease.

The family have been raising money through donations and sponsorships.

The HMS Conway Trust has recently donating £6,000 with Steve starting his working life as a 2nd officer, navigator in the Merchant Navy until the Government cutbacks meant he had to be pensioned off.

Sarah hopes that Steve will “eventually makes it home” and thanked everyone that had donated.

She said: “The response has been great.

“Anybody donating from the big numbers to the five-pound donations.

“We are just so grateful from everybody for bothering.”

To donate visit the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/steve-billy-budd-needs-your-help