Aug 4, 2009 9:48 pm US/Central
3rd Case Of Legionnaires' Disease Reported
One Patient Speaks Out About How Illness Nearly Took His Life
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Chris Brauch, 39, was just released from a Naperville hospital after being treated for Legionnaires' Disease.
CBS
The CTA contractor with Legionnaires' disease isn't alone. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that the contractor is just one of three people, all being treated at the same suburban hospital with that potentially deadly disease.
Another victim, Chris Brauch takes no breath for granted anymore. The 39-year-old Aurora man just got out of Edward Hospital in Naperville after spending more than three weeks there battling Legionnaires' disease.
"It's pretty emotional statement. I really don't know what to say, except that I'm glad to be around," said Brauch.
He spent more than a week of that hospital stay in an induced coma.
"I lost track of a couple of days, I woke up and I had one of my best friends by my side, and all I could do was just shed a tear," Brauch said.
Brauch is one of three people currently fighting the uncommon bacterial illness in the Naperville area and all sought treatment at Edward. It's believed that the CTA worker may have contracted the water-based disease from an industrial power washer used on trains.
"We don't see it very often. We average about three cases a year, and that's why it's unusual to have three cases in a short period of time," said Dr. James Augustinsky, a Physician at Edward Hospital.
As for how he contracted the disease, Brauch said, "I couldn't begin to tell you. Couldn't begin to tell you… I didn't do anything out of the ordinary."
Augustinsky says the origin can be difficult to trace. At first, it may appear in the form of flu like or cold symptoms, but can quickly spread and damage the lungs and other organs. It kills five to 40 percent of those who get it. Brauch's sister, Mary, finds those odds to be terrifying.
"You learn to count your blessings and live in the moment. You realize how fragile life is," she said.
Brauch likely faces a long recovery and he'll be hooked up to oxygen for a while. But he's not complaining.
"I've had a second chance at life, I believe. So there's probably going to be a few things I do a little bit different," he said.
Mary Brauch says she connected with relatives of the other two people battling the illness while her brother was in the hospital - checking in with them whenever she could.
Health officials are looking into a possible connection between the cases, but right now there doesn't appear to be one.
What you need to know about Legionnaires' Disease:
-- Legionnaires' Disease is not spread from person-to-person contact.
-- People get it by inhaling the vapor or mist of contaminated water, typically found in hot tubs, large plumbing systems or parts of the air conditioning systems of large buildings.
-- The disease carries the same symptoms as pneumonia, such as high fever, chills and a cough. Some people may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches.
-- While the disease can be fatal, most cases can be treated successfully with an antibiotic.
Click here for more information on Legionnaires' Disease.
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