'I had a sore throat': Father who didn't go to the doctors because he thought he just had the flu has both legs amputated after going into septic shock and spends months in hospital
- Manly ferry worker Jason Miller thought he had the flu after holiday overseas
- But 48-year-old was placed in a coma days later after going into septic shock
- Bacterial infections cut off much of his circulation and his legs were amputated
- His family were told he had less than 10 per cent chance of surviving the ordeal
An Australian father who came home from a holiday with a sore throat has been forced to have both his legs amputated after contracting two debilitating infections.
Manly ferry worker Jason Miller, 48 - known to his family and friends as Buddy - was admitted to hospital in October with a stinging throat and aching pains shortly after returning from the Philippines.
Mr Miller had delayed his trip to the doctor by a day because he wanted to wait it out and return to work, but his condition quickly worsened upon arrival at Sydney's Northern Beaches Hospital.
Australian father Jason Miller (pictured with daughter Jhayda), who came home from holiday with a sore throat, was forced to have both his legs amputated after contracting two debilitating infections
Having gone into septic shock, doctors put him (pictured) into a coma and diagnosed him with the bacterial infections streptococcus and aerococcus
Having gone into septic shock, doctors put him into a coma and diagnosed him with the bacterial infections streptococcus and aerococcus.
An infectious disease specialist who worked on the father's case said doctors initially thought he had picked up an imported infection - for which penicillin could have provided a cure.
But after five days in a coma, the two infections had left his hands and feet swollen.
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Doctors told him he may lose his hands and his family said there were times when it was feared he may not survive.
'We were told multiple times he has a less than 10 per cent chance of survival,' Kate Munn – Jason's sister-in-law – told Daily Mail Australia.
'Not just once or twice. Many times we were told he might not make it through the next few hours.'
Miller, 48 (pictured in hospital following infections) - known to his family and friends as Buddy - was admitted to hospital in October with a sore throat and aching pains shortly after returning from the Philippines
Mr Miller (pictured with his daughter) had delayed his trip to the doctor by a day because he wanted to wait it out and return to work, but his condition quickly worsened upon arrival at Sydney's Northern Beaches hospital
In January doctors amputated his legs below the knee - with the infections having limited his circulation so severely Mr Miller could not move either his feet or his ankles (different operation on father pictured)
In January, doctors amputated his legs below the knee - with the infections having limited his circulation so severely Mr Miller could not move either his feet or his ankles.
The father said despite his prosthetics, he still wanted to be able to look after his daughter Jhayda, 7, as she grew up.
'For the rest of my life I want to be that Daddy who's protecting her,' he said.
Mr Miller's family, led by his siter-in-law Kathleen Munn, have raised more than $50,000 towards supporting his ongoing treatment.
'It is a true miracle that he survived. His determination to stay alive rocked the doctors and nurses who couldn't believe he was still hanging on,' Ms Munn wrote on the JustGiving page.
The father (pictured before illness) said despite his prosthetics he still wanted to be able to look after his daughter Jhayda, 7, as she grew up
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