Colin, Australia
Drug-resistant infections
"When I had my really bad attack in March, the thought that was running through my mind was, 'I don't want to die alone.'
About 10 years ago, I started getting urinary tract infections. Initially they responded to very common antibiotics. Then as years went by I would continue to get urinary tract infections and we'd have to change the antibiotics. The ones I was on weren't working because the bacteria I had become resistant.
In March this year, I had a really scary occurrence, I started getting cold and I started shaking uncontrollably. Mary was out so I phoned her up and I said, "You've got to come home, I'm really ill." She took me down to the emergency department where I was immediately admitted.
I was thinking I was going to die.
I was in hospital for a week and put on to some of these so-called last-resort antibiotics. I had my last dose four weeks ago. It seems miraculous to me- I've been infection free for four weeks!
It's emotionally draining. There's something lurking in the back of your mind about what happens when the next one comes.
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, including mine. But there's a danger, because of resistance, that we're going to lose that. Is our luck going to hold out forever? I don't know. I don't know."
Watch Colin's story
"Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, including mine.'
With many thanks to Colin for sharing his story.
All photos © WHO Western Pacific