A 33-year-old man was left "slowly dying" after a life-changing mistake left him with damaged lungs.
Chris Capper, from Australia, moved to Home Hill, a rural town in northern Queensland, several years ago to care for his ailing father.
Sadly, his life was to take a turn for the worse after a trip to his friend's house left him fighting for his life, per the Mirror.
In July 2021, while visiting friends in nearby Mount Elliot, Capper drank natural spring water on their property.
Shortly after, his health began to deteriorate, and he has been gravely ill ever since.
Capper believes the unfiltered water is the source of his illness.
Despite countless visits to doctors, it took more than a year for him to be diagnosed with a lung disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), bacteria commonly found in soil, water, and dust.
Now reliant on 16 tablets a day, including four different antibiotics, Capper's health remains in severe decline.
"The severity of disease, how it is treated, and the likelihood of recovery can vary widely from person to person," the American Lung Association states.
"Some of the factors that impact the course of someone’s NTM lung disease are the virulence of the organism, the amount of exposure they’ve gotten, and their overall health."
The infection has spread throughout his body, affecting his left hip, lumbar spine, and skin nodules.
"I can't help myself at all, and the doctors don't know much about the bug, so it just feels like they're waiting for me to die," Capper told Daily Mail Australia. "My brain is stuffed from all this medication, and they don't even know if it's going to work."
In his search for treatment, Capper regularly drives 14 hours to Brisbane to receive care at The Prince Charles Hospital.
At one point, his kidney function plummeted to just six percent. He has also experienced worsening symptoms, including leg seizures, vision loss, and difficulty using his hands.
His condition has taken a significant toll on his day-to-day life. Capper reports vomiting blood, bleeding during bowel movements, and suffering from extreme fatigue.
Before his diagnosis, an X-ray revealed a hole in Capper's lungs, and within just six weeks, the infection had consumed a third of his lung tissue.
The bacteria have also spread to his elbows, resulting in septic arthritis.
In addition to his recent health struggles, Capper also suffers from type 1 diabetes and cystic fibrosis, a hereditary condition that causes severe damage to the lungs and other organs.
A recent report from one of Capper’s doctors, seen by Daily Mail Australia, highlighted the severity of his condition.
The physician expressed concern that Capper is "slowly dying" from an infection deemed "likely incurable."
"Our goal is really to try and suppress the infection and buy him some time," the doctor wrote, recommending that Capper receive treatment closer to home at Ayr Hospital.
In an effort to cover his mounting medical expenses, Capper has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for a $4,500 insulin pump to manage his diabetes, as well as his other medical costs.
