Gentle 'Mr Fix-It' lived with acute diabetes for 40 years
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Ralph Riegel
JOHN Devereux earned his living as a carpenter but was so skilled with his hands he could undertake virtually any kind of manual job.
In his native Tipperary, he was renowned as a multi-skilled "Mr Fix It".
Married with one daughter, Catriona, he was thrilled when he became a grandfather. The 58-year-old was described at yesterday's inquest as "a quiet, gentle man who was extremely generous with his family and friends."
His daughter, Catriona, and brother, James, attended the Cork inquest yesterday.
The Devereux family told the Irish Independent that they remain devastated by his death.
The inquest was told Mr Devereux -- who was an acute diabetic for 40 years -- was admitted to South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH) on January 18 last, complaining of a painful and inflamed toe.
Mr Devereux had a history of heart disease and diabetes-related problems with his eyes and nerves. He had been prescribed a range of antibiotic treatments, but these had failed to clear up the toe inflammation. When he was admitted to STGH, his big toe was already deformed.
Doctors gave him an intravenous dose of Fusidic Acid -- and he remained on Lipitor, which he had been taking for more than seven years, to control his cholesterol.
His condition appeared to improve and he was discharged on February 8. Surgeons from Waterford Regional Hospital who reviewed his condition felt there was no need to amputate his toe despite fears the infection could spread to his bone.
However Mr Devereux's condition again worsened and he was readmitted to STGH complaining of severe pain and loss of power in his legs on February 15.
Two days later, blood tests showed he was suffering from Rhabdomyalisis (RDM), and both his Fusidic Acid and Lipitor treatments were stopped.
RDM is a potentially lethal condition, which attacks the skeletal muscles.
Proteins created by the disintegrating muscle tissue can cause major damage to the kidneys.
Efforts to stabilise Mr Devereux's condition failed and he was transferred to Cork University Hospital on February 21 suffering from acute kidney problems.
He later went into renal failure and doctors had to place him on dialysis.
During his dialysis, Mr Devereux contracted a separate, severe bacterial infection, which proceeded to attack the flesh below the skin of his legs.
He was placed in the Intensive Care Unit as his condition continued to deteriorate and died on March 2.
- Ralph Riegel
