Celebratory Trip Turns Tragic as Tourist Contracts Life-Threatening Infection
In a harrowing turn of events, what was meant to be a joyous wedding anniversary celebration has become a medical crisis for a Colorado family. Guy Matlock, 64, finds himself fighting for his life in a Copenhagen hospital after contracting a dangerous superbug during a Northern European cruise.
From dream vacation to medical emergency
Matlock and his wife Adrien embarked on their first international trip, a cruise around Northern Europe, to commemorate their wedding anniversary. However, just six days into their holiday, Matlock began experiencing what seemed to be flu-like symptoms. His condition rapidly deteriorated, revealing a far more serious health crisis.
Moriah Matlock, the couple’s daughter, shared the family’s ordeal with KDVR news. She recounted the swift progression of her father’s illness:
“They pulled into port as soon as possible… They found that he had flu A, pneumonia, and sepsis, which essentially turned into a super virus within his body and started attacking his major organs.”
Critical condition and complications
The situation took a dire turn when Matlock suffered cardiac arrest and lung failure. The severity of his condition has resulted in brain damage, leaving him dependent on a ventilator for breathing. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Copenhagen, far from his home and support system in Colorado.
The challenge of international medical care
The Matlock family now faces not only the medical crisis but also the complexities of navigating healthcare in a foreign country. Moriah Matlock described the difficulties:
“It’s very isolating in a different country, a country where you don’t know any of the language, and there’s so many different societal changes.”
She added, “His brain just isn’t getting enough stimulation from Danish society, because he just hears the different languages and he isn’t able to compute.”
The high cost of coming home
Believing that Matlock would benefit from familiar surroundings and support, the family is urgently working to arrange a medical evacuation. However, they face a staggering financial hurdle: the cost of such an evacuation can reach up to $150,000.
While Adrien Matlock remains by her husband’s side in Copenhagen, their children have had to return to Colorado after initially rushing to Denmark with emergency passports.
Expressing the emotional toll of the situation, Moriah said, “No one can explain the sorrows that it can bring seeing someone so strong in such a not-so-strong state.”
The growing threat of superbugs
Matlock’s case highlights the increasing concern about antibiotic-resistant superbugs among medical professionals. These dangerous bacteria have developed resistance to one or more antibiotics, making infections extremely difficult to treat.
Infectious disease epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee recently warned CNN about the escalating threat:
“It’s estimated that by 2050, 10 million people per year — that’s one person every three seconds — is going to be dying from a superbug infection.”
Superbugs can spread throughout the body, triggering an extreme immune response known as sepsis, which can lead to organ failure and death.
As the Matlock family continues their fight to bring Guy home and aid his recovery, their story serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of international travel and the growing global health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant infections.