A newlywed has spent weeks in an intensive care unit in Mexico after experiencing intense stomach pains on his honeymoon.
Layton, 29, and Whitney McCann, 30, were married on April 5 and spent months planning the honeymoon of their dreams in the United States and Mexico.
Mr McCann, a schoolteacher, and Mrs McCann, a hair salon owner, left Geelong, Victoria, and flew to Playa Del Carmen after two weeks in the US.
However, just days after arriving in the coastal resort town, Mr McCann began experiencing intense abdominal pain.
Mrs McCann’s sister, Bronte Holland, said the situation escalated quickly.
‘The hotel they were staying at had a doctor so they called the doctor into the room,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He gave Layton something and then left. My sister called the doctor back after 10 minutes because he was really not well.
‘They sent him to hospital and he’s been there now for nearly two weeks.’
The McCanns (pictured on their wedding day) married in early April and spent months planning their dream honeymoon in the United States and Mexico
The couple were holidaying in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, when Mr McCann (pictured in an intensive care unit) suddenly began experiencing intense abdominal pain
Tests revealed Mr McCann had contracted an infection that led to pancreatitis – an inflammation of the pancreas – and he was rushed to the closest intensive care unit.
His mother and mother-in-law arrived in Mexico on Sunday, with Mr McCann put in an induced coma and placed on a ventilator the following day.
‘They’re not sure what caused it,’ Ms Holland said.
‘It could’ve been the food or the alcohol that he was having on his honeymoon but something has triggered this infection.
‘The pancreas was all inflamed and it started to die, so they’ve put him in a coma.’
The family, who are facing a language barrier, considered medically evacuating Mr McCann home to Australia, but he is currently too unstable to travel.
‘Layton’s whole body swelled up, all his face was swollen,’ Ms Holland said.
‘I’m a nurse and, from what my sister’s telling me, they’re doing a really good job taking care of him. They’ve been checking his bloods, doing CT scans every day.
Mr Layton (pictured on his wedding day) was in good health and ran every day before he contracted an infection in Mexico and was placed in an induced coma
The couple (pictured) spent two weeks in the US before they flew to Mexico where disaster struck when Mr McCann began experiencing intense stomach pains
Both sides of the couple’s family were shocked by how quickly Mr McCann deteriorated (pictured, the couple on their honeymoon in the US before they flew to Mexico)
‘My sister’s travel insurance also set up a doctor in Australia she can liaise with. Everything’s just extra stressful because of the language barrier.’
Mr McCann’s deterioration has left his family members rattled, given his usual robust health.
‘He’s an avid cricket player. He’s part of the North Geelong cricket club and he runs every day,’ Ms Holland said.
‘He’s very physically active and a healthy young bloke.’
While the couple’s medical bills are being covered by their travel insurance, they still face several ongoing costs.
On top of accommodation and additional flights, Mrs McCann runs her own business and is losing income each day she misses work.
Ms Holland has created a GoFundMe to help relieve some of the financial pressure.
‘Everyone’s stressed and everyone’s a mess,’ she said.
‘It’s just so sad, they only just got married. They should be having the time of their lives on their honeymoon, this is not how it’s supposed to go.
‘It just breaks my heart and I feel so helpless. She’s my baby sister and there’s just nothing we can do for them. It’s awful.’
