Distraught Karl Stefanovic comforts parents begging to see their seriously ill son in hospital in heartbreaking Today Show interview after being BANNED due to coronavirus restrictions
- Ben Stylo has chronic granulomatous disease which compromises his immunity
- 28-year-old is in hospital after being admitted from septic shock ten days ago
- His erratic condition means he is either inches from death or alert and sitting up
- Mr Styo's family say they are terrified they will never be allowed to see him again
- His mother Rose Cassar said the family would do what it takes to be by his side
- Karl Stefanovic said what virus is doing to families with sick loved ones is 'awful'
A clearly distraught Karl Stefanovic has comforted parents who pleaded to see their severely ill son in the ICU in a heartbreaking interview.
Ben Stylo, 28, was rushed to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital ten days ago with sepsis and his relatives are being kept out of the ICU to prevent the spread of the virus among vulnerable patients.
The cafe owner suffers from chronic granulomatous disease - a genetic condition which prevents his immune system from fighting infection and is so rare there are only five known cases worldwide.
His mother Rose Cassar, who was allowed to ride with her son in the ambulance to hospital but no further, said the family would do anything to see their son.
Ben Stylo, who was admitted to a Melbourne hospital ten days ago suffering from septic shock (pictured, centre, with his mother Rose Cassar and father Donald Borg in hospital)
'We don't want to make things any worse for anyone. We are following protocols. We will wear PPE. We'll pay for our own PPE and have COVID tests done,' she told the Today show on Tuesday morning.
'We don't want all of us to be there - we just want one of us to be there by his side and that can make a world of difference to him, to his recovery and to our mental health.'
Mr Stylo contracted a fungal infection in January 2019 and doctors fear it has seeped into his bloodstream.
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'This is the worst virus,' Stefanovic told the parents. 'And what it's doing to families when you should have a loved one around you.
'You just want to be with someone and if it's a family member who is dying or someone who is going through the most hideous experience you can't be with them.
'I mean, it separates us. It separates the love. It means you don't have that contact. It's awful.'
Mr Stylo's mother Rose Cassar (pictured, left) said the 28-year-old's family would do what it takes to be by his side (right, his father Donald Borg on Tuesday morning)
'This is the worst virus,' breakfast host Karl Stefanovic told the parents. 'And what it's doing to families when you should have a loved one around you
The 28-year-old was initially incubated before being taken off the tubes last Wednesday, but Ms Cassar said it could be a matter of time before the sepsis returns.
'He's still in the ICU and he's very fragile,' the mother said. 'He is a lot better than what he was but he has a temperature and they have to keep him there because the sepsis he suffered may potentially come back.'
Mr Stylo's father Donald Borg said even if his son's mother could see him through a window or a screen it would be enough.
Mr Stylo (pictured) contracted a fungal infection in January 2019 and doctors fear it has seeped into his bloodstream
'We have got great support family wise and we're just hoping for the best,' he said. 'The nurses and doctor in the ICU have been excellent - if it wasn’t for them Ben would be gone.'
The family have written a letter to Premier Daniel Andrews asking for health authorities to allow relatives to see their loved ones in ICU in a safe environment.
Ms Cassar has previously told Daily Mail Australia she understands the need for strict rules around visitors, but said there should be a way for patients in intensive care to see their loved ones during the pandemic.
'We want the ability to see our son without risking anyone else's health. We would wear PPE suits and we would do a COVID-19 test,' she said.
The family have tried scheduling video calls but his condition changes so quickly that the opportunities are always postponed.
Mr Borg said his son is isolated and losing hope.
Mr Stylo's family lived in terror as he went from having hours to live, to sitting up in bed, to going back on life support (pictured, Mr Stylo with his stepfather Russell)
In the days following his ICU admission, Mr Stylo's family were terrified as he went from having hours to live, to sitting up in bed, to going back on life support.
At one point, Ms Cassar received a phone call from the hospital informing her that her son's life was fading.
'I begged and pleaded, please let me come and see him. They said no. Then an hour-and-a-half later I got the call saying you are allowed to see him, special circumstances, he only has hours left to live,' she said.
While Mr Stylo (pictured) miraculously improved and is currently conscious and alert, his condition continues to deteriorate and re-stabolise erratically
The family remain hopeful that he will pull through, but are acutely aware that the situation could take a dire turn. He is pictured in hospital in a Facebook post shared by his supporters in January
The family have also penned a Change.org petition to the Victorian government and pleaded with them to change the rules.
'We do not want any parent to go through what we are going through,' the petition reads.
'Help us see our son alive and help other families to not go through what we are going through.'
Ms Cassar told Daily Mail Australia that she understands the need for strict rules around visitor. Pictured, left to right: Ben Stylo, his brothers Noah and Adam, and mother Rose)
Mr Stylo's father Donald Borg told 9 News that his son (pictured) is isolated and losing hope.
Ben Stylo's family have tried scheduling video calls but his condition changes so quickly that the opportunities are always postponed
Ms Cassar told Daily Mail Australia that she understands the need for strict rules around visitors
A spokesperson for Alfred Health said visiting restrictions are in place to protect patients and staff from coronavirus.
'As visitors are only permitted under special circumstances, our staff are working hard to maintain the connection between patients and loved ones,' they said.
Melbourne has been forced into strict lockdown after record-high numbers of coronavirus continue to plague the city.
Residents are only allowed outside for essential purposes, including to buy food and care for sick relatives.
