Abandon Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Our good friend Yeti - who has posted on Thai Visa for a number of years passed away today, Sept 22nd 2009. He was 32 years old, and leaves behind a Thai wife and two kids : Girl of 14 months and a boy of just a few weeks. He saw his new born son only once, and was not allowed to touch him. Yeti, Christophe Bilhaut, called in at hospital with a skin rach and a slight fever about 2 months ago. He was kept over night and by the next morning was in the ICU. He was on the brink of dying for 5 days, when he started to stabilize slightly. He was not conscious for the 5 days, but I saw him on the sixth and there was a slight reaction to speech. His parents had already flown in to be with him, and they kept him in Samitvej hospital throughout. The diagnois was battered around for several days, but in the end they siad it was type A flu virus, but not swine flu, which is a later and slightly more potent version of its predecessor. Its possible it was h1n1 and they did not want to panic the staff. The virus was gone pretty quick but Yetis body had filled with water, and with bacterial infections all over. His brain was relatively untouched. A few days later he spiralled down and Drs said he would not last the night. He did last, and slowly, inch by inch clawed his way back into contention amongst the living. All his organs had shut down, espcially lungs (filled with fluid), kidneys, liver, intestines. He was conscious, and could nod or shake his head. He indicated (after many many yes/no questions) he wanted ice cubes, and his fingers hurt. He also wanted his legs moving around as he was too weak even to raise a hand. He got ever so slowly better, but in the ICU throughout. After 3 weeks in the ICU his breathing pipe was removed, and a day or two after that he could speak again. He did not remember anything before the point where he could speak, though he was very clearly conscious for most of the time. Once his 'self' had returned so did the panic, and his heart rate shot back up into the 130-140 range. After 1 month he got out of the ICU for a couple of days, only to return following breathing problems connected with the Dialysis. Another week and he got out of the ICU and had just started on weak soup and banana (He was still fed milk through a nasal feeding tube - and he said he was always a bit sick when he took milk). When they removed the dialysis pipes, for no apparant reason, he spiralled into shock. Back in the ICU he was jerking around violently throughout the night. Despite the 80 000 - 120 000 baht PER NIGHT charge, the Doctor was not there - the nurses treated him with the Doctor on the phone (?!?!?!) I was there at that time. A day later and he was 'brain-dead' which means legally he had died. It was not just a deep coma. The Drs told me he would not recover, but they maintained his body for 2 more weeks while the family adjusted. He finally passed at 4 pm today. Yeti was always utterly polite, even behind the anonyimity of the internet. A lovely guy, with very few friends or social activities, he was more than happy to stay home with his wife and daughter. He posted on TV fairly often, mostly in the computing forum. I met him in person via TV. His parents, both in their early 80s are lumbered with the bulk of the bill, which will run into many millions of baht, even with some insurance for some of the treatments. His wife has no trade, and two babies in tow. They only recently bought a condo, so its unlikely she'll be able to keep that. The flu virus cleared after a few days, so it was the ensuing complications that brought about the problems. In fact, the Drs and everyone is agreed that there is no real medical reason for this kind of reaction to the flu in the first case, or the sudden final spiralling in the latter stages. His parents as strong Catholics have insisted on taking the body back to France for a Christian burial. Which seems a bit harsh on Mrs Yeti, but then the whole story is harsh. Be careful you have good health insurance! Yeti was 'insured' but the fine print shows it covers some treatments and not others, with caps on payouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 My condolences to his family and loved ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyb Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 My condolences to his family and loved ones. Ditto Very sad for all concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossfinn Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) Rest in Peace, condolences to the family and thanks for letting us know Abandon Edited September 22, 2009 by Mossfinn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
withnail Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 It was nice to have also known Yeti if only for brief time a few years ago, firstly through TV and secondly while he studied at the same Thai school as I did. From memory, his French accent got in the way a little bit, but I can honestly say that the only memory I really have is of him smiling. I know from others that Abandon was very helpful to Yeti's family through this difficult time so I'd like to say thank you to him. I'm sure people appreciated his support. My heart goes out to his wife and his kids. Please let me know if there's anything I could do to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadish_sweetball Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Yeti was a friend of mine, and I miss him greatly. He was a genuinely good person if ever I met one. This whole story is extremely sad. He was perfectly healthy and lived a great life with his wife and daughter until he was hospitalized and these events started unfolding. I was shocked when I first heard how serious it had become, because there was nothing at all that would tell beforehand. It clearly shows how fragile life is, and how quickly it can change. I can not get over how cruel this whole situation is for his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonboy Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Yeah thanks for letting us all know Abandon. Yeti was a great bloke even if I didn't meet him in person. I hope all will go well for his wife and children now he has passed away. He will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBloodyWilson Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Very sad. I never met or exchanged with him, but 32 is no age at all to die. Very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUDAS Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 What a heart wrenching tale. So young and leaving a wife and young children behind. Life's not fair... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy2004 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 RIP Yeti Thanks for all the updates Abandon. My condolences go out to his wife, children and parents. He was such a clever, helpful, polite man. I'm still lost for words. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abandon Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 Yes - it was hard to watch. Visiting someone who can speak due to breathing tubes - its hard to think of things to talk about. Especially when everything was so uncomfortable for him. But how fast you get complacent. He was getting better so we took our eye off the ball. And then *poof* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurasianthai Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Scary thing actually. Dying so fast, so young. My heartful condolences to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickBradford Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Abandon, Sorry for the loss of your good friend. But the whole diagnosis and treatment scenario sounds a bit haphazard. The story about the virus having left but bacterial infection having taken over sounds very strange. It seems odd that some kind of flu could fell a young and (I assume) robust guy? Once again, my condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 This is so sad, 32 is no age to die, May his soul rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhaoNiaw Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britmaveric Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 RIP - never met the lad, but he seemed like a lovely lad from his posts. Death under those circumstances is rather shocking/sad. Offer his family/relatives my condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deksan Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Pretty sad story Sad to hear about his death he was a nice and helpful person as the OP said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moe666 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Sorry to hear this, very young man, sounds like his own immune system did him in. Best wishes to his family in their grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwuk Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 I am sorry for your loss Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sputnik22k Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Yeti will be missed, he was a great guy and wish i knew him better. He always had time to help. RIP mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xangsamhua Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 RIP Yeti, and prayers for his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdnvic Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Very sad story, especially distressing to hear of what the wife and kids face. Yeti. Will miss you in the computer forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 My condolences to the family and friends. Very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boo Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Wow, my most sincere & heartfelt sympathy for his family, esp his wife & children who will feel his loss greatly. RIP. 32 is far far too young to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 RIP Yeti I always met with you in the Internet forum and I will miss you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raro Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 RIP Yeti - what a horror story! Also reminds one to review the fineprint in the health insurance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who, me ? Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Adieu! RIP. Condolences to the family... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_Pat_Pong Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 RIP Yeti. Moved to RIP member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 What a sad and awful story. Condolences to his family and I do hope that things work out for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man River Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 This is tragic. It is all so hard to understand given many of us get the flu and he was obviously taken to the same hospital many of us would go to. It is scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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