Man Forced To Remove His Nose After Developing Rare Flu Infection, Says A 'Sneeze Could Have Killed Me'

A 31-year-old man from the US, Brandon Boothby, has undergone a rare procedure to remove his nose after contracting a severe fungal infection that threatened his life. The infection, which started in his nasal region, was just weeks away from reaching critical organs, leaving Boothby with no choice but to take drastic measures to ensure his survival.

Boothby’s ordeal began when he developed flu-like symptoms, progressively worsening to the point where he was weak and frequently passing out. Hospital tests revealed that he was suffering from severe aplastic anaemia, a rare autoimmune condition that severely compromises the body’s ability to produce enough new blood cells. This condition left him highly susceptible to serious infections.

Speaking to The Sun, Boothby explained the severity of his condition, stating, “It’s such a severe disease that if someone sneezes around you, you could get a fatal infection.”

Aplastic anaemia is known to be a challenging condition to treat, with options ranging from immunosuppressants to chemotherapy, blood transfusions or blood and bone marrow transplants.

The race to find a lifesaving bone marrow transplant ensued, and while waiting for a suitable donor, Boothby returned home to his family. However, his health took a turn for the worse as he developed a fever, leading to a hospital visit where he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal fungal infection.

Despite undergoing five surgeries in an attempt to halt the fungus’s destructive path, doctors ultimately decided to remove Boothby’s nose and part of the eye socket to prevent the infection from spreading further. The procedure was deemed necessary to save his life, and a prosthetic nose was fitted afterwards.

Boothby’s challenges didn’t end there. Following a successful bone marrow transplant, he developed graft versus host syndrome, a condition where the new healthy blood cells attacked his own body. This led to severe malnourishment, eczema-like symptoms and inflammation of organs, putting him at risk of undergoing a colostomy.

Remarkably, due to his prior fitness, doctors opted for a natural healing approach. After battling the complications, Boothby is on the road to recovery, nearly two years later.

“They (doctors) told me it could take up to three years to heal completely, but it’s been almost two now, and it’s going extremely well,” he shared with The Sun.

Boothby has returned to full-time duty as a firefighter and is now sharing his story to raise awareness about the rare condition and the importance of bone marrow donation.

“Now, I wake up with a whole different mindset. I appreciate everything, even if it’s just standing outside and enjoying the weather or being with my daughter,” Boothby added, highlighting his newfound gratitude for life after overcoming this extraordinary medical challenge.