North Naples 93-year-old is recovering after contracting deadly bacteria at Delnor-Wiggins

Roy Haase has spent nearly every morning at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park since he moved to North Naples about 20 years ago. He is at the park so often, regulars call him the mayor of Delnor-Wiggins.

“I have always loved beaches my entire life, and I grew up near a beach,” Haase said. “Naples has beautiful beaches, and it’s one of the reasons we settled down here.”  

But this summer, Haase’s love for the beach turned into a nightmare.  

Haase, who turns 94 in a few months, is recovering after he contracted Vibrio vulnificus while swimming at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.  

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria in warm, brackish seawater and can be contracted through open wounds or the consumption of raw shellfish, according to the Florida Department of Health.   

Before contracting the bacterium, Haase would get up at 5 a.m., walk an hour down the beach to see the sunrise and do his morning prayers.  

After that he would take a swim in the Gulf of Mexico waters at the state park.  

Haase had been using crutches while walking on the beach to help maintain his balance for the past few months. Around early August, a screw sticking out of Haase’s crutches caused a small scrape on his left leg, near his knee.  

This small scrape may have allowed Vibrio vulnificus to enter Haase’s bloodstream.  

On Aug. 2, Haase woke up feeling dizzy and had to get back in bed before getting up again to head to the beach as part of his morning routine.   

"I get in the car and holy mackerel, I was really dopey in the car,” Haase said. “I was kind of swerving all over the road and I was trying to go slow, but they said when I went into the park I just zoomed right in. I even bashed my windshield on the trees on the side of the road."  

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Later, Haase would find out he was having seizures brought on by the Vibrio vulnificus in his bloodstream.  After parking his car, Haase began walking on the beach and suddenly fell. 

"I couldn't get back up,” Haase said. “It was a terrible feeling, but I didn't have any strength. I struggled and rolled around in the sand. It's a bad feeling not being able to get up off your face on the sand.” 

Luckily, an unidentified woman walking on the beach saw Haase and called the park rangers, who called an ambulance. Haase was transported to NCH Baker Hospital Downtown.  

"I checked in and the doctor told me I was just about gone,” Haase said. “I didn't know bacteria could do you in that fast, but they said it was deadly and very fast-acting.” 

Haase stayed at the hospital for about three weeks, first in the intensive care unit. Eventually, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center with nursing care in North Naples, where he is currently.  

Large open wounds developed, with his left leg taking most of the damage because of the . At one point, Haase’s left leg bone was showing through his skin.   

"His leg is healing slowly, but it's healing,” said Robb Stan, a friend of Haase’s for the past three years. “I think the doctors are kind of amazed because it started with talk of amputation then maybe a skin graft to cover the wound, and I don't think any of that is on the table anymore."  

However, many people who contract Vibrio vulnificus are not so lucky. Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time, according to the Florida Department of Health.  

The bacterium invades the bloodstream, causing a severe and life-threatening illness with symptoms like fever, chills, decreased blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.  

Healthy individuals typically develop a mild disease. However, Vibrio vulnificus infections can be a serious concern for people who have weakened immune systems, particularly those with a chronic liver disease, the health department said. 

Although dangerous, infections are rare. In 2017, 49 people contracted the bacterium in Florida, and 11 died because of it, according to the Florida department of health.  

So far in 2018, 29 people have been infected by the bacterium and five people have died in Florida.  

Collier County had the most cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections of any county in Florida in 2017, with five, and one death, according to the department of health.  

Lee Marteeny died last year from a Vibrio vulnificus infection he contracted after wading through the muddy floodwaters of his Everglades City home after Hurricane Irma. 

Marteeny, 72, died at Physicians Regional hospital after doctors treated him for respiratory failure and internal bleeding last September.

Red sores on Marteeny’s legs, caused by years of poor circulation and heart disease, turned ink black after he waded through Irma’s floodwaters. 

Three of the five people infected with the bacterium last year in Collier County came in contact with floodwater after Hurricane Irma, causing the infection, said Nick Van Der Linden, interim communications director for the Florida Department of Health.  

More cases in certain counties doesn’t necessarily mean there is a higher risk of exposure, and those wishing to protect themselves against Vibrio vulnificus can do so in several ways, Van Der Linden said.  

“People should know their health status,” Van Der Linden said. “Persons who are immunocompromised or have liver disease should consider avoiding swimming in warm brackish waters, especially during the summer months, or wear protective clothing to avoid cuts and scrapes.” 

Everyone with wounds should consider staying out of brackish or salt water or should cover wounds with a waterproof bandage, Van Der Linden said. 

Those concerned about the bacterium should also avoid eating or handling raw oysters or shellfish.  

Haase has been able to maintain a positive attitude during his recovery.  

"Positive attitude is a big deal,” Haase said. “I am embarrassed to say I did lose it for a while. I love life, I am thankful for life and I want to keep on living healthy and happy forever. However, when I was down and out before the blood transfusion, I felt so low I wanted to leave." 

Since contracting the bacterium, Haase has found support from people all over the world and has received hundreds of cards wishing him a speedy recovery.  

Many people know Haase because he is featured almost every day on Southwest Florida Television’s Facebook livestreams. The livestreams are produced by Haase's friend Robb Stan at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and usually feature Haase telling jokes or giving tips for living a healthy life.  

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About 22,500 people like the Facebook page. Since Haase fell ill, Stan has been posting Facebook live videos of Haase, updating his followers on his condition at the hospital or rehab center.  

In a Facebook live video posted on Tuesday, Haase is up and walking around outside of his rehabilitation center and even takes a few steps without the support of his walker.  

The hope is for Haase to move back home by the end of the week, where he will hire an in-home nurse to help him change the bandages on his healing wounds.  

Other people following along with Haase’s progress are fans of his book “How I've Lived to be Almost 100 and Enjoyed the Journey,” which was released about three months ago.   

“I can't believe that many people are concerned about my health and well-being,” Haase said. “It is extremely gratifying. It's not only get-well cards but long letters about how they are looking forward to me getting back to the beach."  

Scott Magyar, who has known him for over a year, said Haase’s attitude is what attracts people to him.  

"There's a lot of people out there who like his positivity, and I'm one of them,” Magyar said. “We've watched him on the beach for a long time and in Robb’s (Stan) videos every morning too. We just love his positivity.”  

Even though Haase is recovering well, Stan said the bacterium infection may forever change him physically.  

"His biggest obstacle now is his life is going to change,” Stan said. “His leg isn't ever going to be the same. Hopefully, we can get him one of those beach walkers once he is out of the rehab center.”  

For Haase, the incident will forever change his attitude.  

"I am going to be a different man, and I don't know how or in what ways,” Haase said. “Never in my life before had something this serious happened, where I was almost over the divide. I know I am going to be more spiritual, maybe kinder and more tolerant of other people.”