It was supposed to be a fun, family vacation that quickly took a turn for the worse.
CityNews spoke with a veteran Vancouver firefighter who, despite facing a lot of challenges, is trying to remain optimistic after losing part of his leg.
Christopher Won’s ordeal began in mid-February. He and his family were in Singapore, getting ready to fly to Hong Kong.
Vancouver firefighter Christopher Won and his two children. (Courtesy Marie Hui / Instagram)
On the morning of Feb. 13, he said he felt pain in his right foot.
“I didn’t have any real problems walking around the previous day. So, I just chalked it up to being old and maybe something happened in my sleep, and I’ll just walk it off, so to speak,” said the 53-year-old.
“As the morning went on, we got to the airport, and it got a little more sore and it was becoming more difficult to bear weight and I felt something was really wrong once we got on the flight.”
He had contracted necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria, but didn’t know it yet.
Won admitted he was using his children’s stroller as a walker, finding it increasingly impossible to walk, and soon after landing in Hong Kong, they made their way to the hospital.
“The swelling began in the foot and ankle and as the hours went by it began to spread upwards into my shin and calf. The skin was dark. It was swelling that when you pressed down on the leg or foot, it felt very hard.
“As we got to the hospital, I would honestly say the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. Unbearable pain where all I could think about was finding relief. There was no other thought that entered my mind.”
He and his wife, Marie Hui, discovered the hospital they were at wasn’t able to address his needs and he was moved to another facility that had the appropriate specialists available. He spent the night alone and by the following afternoon, he was undergoing the first of two major surgeries that eventually removed part of his leg.
“I was very, very afraid and just trying to mentally manage the pain,” he explained.
“Emotionally, it was a lot of fear of the unknown. I had no idea why this was happening to me. And then at a certain point, it switched to strictly, ‘It is so painful, I can’t think of anything else. I’ll do anything. Put me under anesthesia and do whatever you want.’ That’s the only thing I think I can remember. Desperately signing consent forms for all of the things they were going to do to me.”
Hui shared that she could see how much pain he was in and didn’t know about the bacteria until after his first surgery.
“When the doctor contacted us and used words like necrotizing fasciitis, which I had to actually look up. He used words like, ‘amputation of the leg.’ My jaw just dropped, and I couldn’t really concentrate on anything else other than he might lose his life and he might lose his leg.”
Hui says she was also thinking about their kids and just how far they were from home.
“I couldn’t believe what had happened. Obviously, he survived both surgeries. We’re really lucky to have him here today because he was very close to not coming home with us.”
Vancouver firefighter Christopher Won, his wife Marie Hui, and their two children. (Courtesy Marie Hui / Instagram)
Won isn’t sure if everything that’s transpired has sunk in yet, and added it’s not just about the physical changes, but the emotional and mental ones, as well.
“Intellectually, I accept this. Emotionally, it’s tough. I’ve lost a big part of myself.”
Hui explained a lot has changed in their lives and expects more changes to come.
“Home life is a bit different for us. The routine around the kids is a bit different, although he tries really hard to do everything that he used to do. It’s just a little bit slower, which is fine. He’s still helping around the house, which is great.”
Right now, Won uses crutches, but earlier this week, he had his first appointment with GF Strong and the hope is he will be fitted with a prosthetic in the next six months. The couple hopes that will help him return to their active lifestyle, which previously included activities like snowboarding, running, and riding motorcycles.
“When you’re in hospital, everything is immediately available to you, in terms of treatment, physiotherapy, imaging, scans, tests, and now coming home, we’re having to advocate for ourselves a little harder because it’s an out-patient model.
“By human nature, we feel progress if we’re actively doing something, and waiting for phone calls from specialists isn’t really actively doing anything,” explained Won.
Returning to work
Won, an assistant fire chief with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS), has been with the department for more than 20 years and remains employed. He said the agency has been nothing but supportive and he hopes to return to work, in some capacity, in the future.
“They’re constantly calling and texting and finding out if I need anything. We have crews around the city preparing meals for us three times a week. They deliver it right to our front door and it gives me a chance to see many of the people that I worked with and many of the new firefighters that I trained.”
Won, who is on sick leave, said he’s trying not to think about work, but stressed it’s such a big part of his life.
“Much of my social support network is coming from the fire service. So, of course, what we do when we see each other is talk shop and of course, I want to hear all the gossip and rumours about what’s going on. I try not to indulge in that too much, but it’s always good to have a laugh.
“When I was in hospital in Hong Kong, I had an active member of the Hong Kong Fire Department come and visit me. [He] randomly saw the story, asked if it was OK to visit, and he took the time out of his day to come and visit and wish me well,” Won said.
“I think that’s illustrative of the kind of cultural bonds, the family-like structure of what [firefighters] do.”
The mental perspective
Won and Hui don’t know how he got the disease, and explained he doesn’t waste time thinking about it, instead choosing to focus on his physical and mental well-being instead.
He admitted the last couple of months have been a rollercoaster and he has advice for anyone who’s going through something similar or battling any illness.
“Closing yourself off to people is probably the biggest mistake you can make. Having that social network and being open to your community and allowing people to be involved with your situation. You may be embarrassed or whatever feelings you go through, and I’ve been through a lot of them, is the people around you want to help, and you need to allow them to do that. If anything, it will accelerate your recovery.”
Won said that what’s helped him is he knew himself through and through before this happened.
“You are who you are. Your physical appearance doesn’t change who you are, and this is a massive change in my physical appearance, but I’ve tried my best to not shut people out because 10 years ago, that’s exactly what I would have done.”
The couple, which has received money from a GoFundMe, said they’re grateful for the love and support shown by the community at large.
“We’re so, so thankful for all the support and love from our friends and family, but also from complete strangers. We feel the love. We feel the warm hugs that everyone has given to us, virtually. It just feels really great to have such amazing support,” said Hui.