Rehabilitation
In September 2008, after spending nearly five months in the Halifax Infirmary, enduring six surgeries to remove infected skin tissue and muscle from his right leg, and to cover exposed tissue with skin grafts taken from his left leg, Fleming returned to Windsor to begin, what he calls, the rehabilitation process that got him “back to, what I call, normal.”
Fleming spent another five months in and out of the rehabilitation wing at the Hants Community Hospital, where, he says, staff members were almost over accommodating.
“They challenge you enough to get back on your feet, but not to crush your morale,” he explained, shifting in his chair, trying to avoid getting choked up.
When asked, Fleming discusses the physical effects of his illness with scientific precision. He explains that fleshing-eating disease can be caused by the bacteria group A streptococcus (strep A), which according to Health Canada’s website, many people carry in their skin or throat, but only between 90 and 200 cases of flesh-eating disease are reported in Canada per year.
He even jokes that “You’re more likely to win the lottery than to get flesh-eating disease.”
But, he struggles to talk about the rehabilitation care he received from nurses, dieticians and physiotherapists in his hometown hospital without getting emotional.
“What amazed me at HCH is if they didn’t have the equipment I needed they would actually go out of their way to find it,” Fleming said, pausing periodically as he spoke.
The hospital brought in a custom bed and wheelchair, designed to better accommodate Fleming in his condition. The staff members encouraged him to keep moving, and eat properly, in order to regain enough muscle mass to be able to walk on his own two feet.
And, with occasional help from an orthotic leg brace he had custom built, Fleming does just that.
Giving back
Equipped with a new perspective on life and tired of working for large pharmaceutical corporations, Fleming teamed up with his wife in December 2009 to start Brigus Pharma Inc, their own pharmaceutical sales company based in Windsor.
“We provide sales and marketing services nationally for companies that don’t have the depth or the financial backing to set up a sales team,” Fleming explained.
The company has 16 commissioned sales associates travelling throughout the Canada, visiting every province except Quebec.
The new business keeps Fleming busy, but he’s careful not to forget about the community hospital that helped him get his life back on track.
Brigus Pharma Inc. donated $5,000 to sponsor the Hants Community Hospital Foundation’s annual golf tournament fundraiser this summer, setting a corporate sponsorship record.
Fleming says the donation is just a small token of appreciation from a family that is happy to be back under the same roof – with 2,015 origami paper cranes.
When asked if he ever told Dad what he wished for, Luke blushed, shot his father a quick sideways glance, and replied:
“He just guessed.”
