There鈥檚 a glimmer of hope for a Penticton father of two in his battle with the deadly necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease.

Jonathan Hesla, who turned 40 in June, is not entirely out of the woods yet, but this week he was moved from the intensive care unit at Penticton Regional Hospital to the south pavilion wing. He has had two major surgeries to remove dead flesh, including some muscle tissue. Unlike many others with the disease, he has so far avoided amputation.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think he has fully grasped it yet. He鈥檚 still in survival mode,鈥� said Jonathan鈥檚 wife Shannon, who described her husband as a strong, sensitive soul. 鈥淚 can talk about it, but I think in the next couple of weeks when things start to settle down it will really hit me. I have to be there for the girls.

鈥淚 told him a little bit, that there鈥檚 a funding page and people sending messages and saying prayers and he started crying. He was so overwhelmed just to know that he鈥檚 so loved and that everyone wants to help.鈥�

She added their daughters, Olivia, 4, and Mira, 1, are not fully aware of what their father is facing but definitely know something is wrong.

鈥淥livia is really smart and she knows dad is in the hospital and the doctors are taking care of him, Mira doesn鈥檛 have any sense of what鈥檚 going on but she鈥檚 definitely out of sorts, more clingy,鈥� said Shannon. 鈥淭hey haven鈥檛 seen him yet. We鈥檝e sent some pictures and did some video but it鈥檚 just too much to take them to the hospital, it鈥檚 just so exhausting for him right now, even with me there.鈥�

It was the first week of July when Jonathan began experiencing problems, including leg and back pain, swelling and nausea that, unknown to the Hesla鈥檚 at the time, are all signs of necrotizing fasciitis.

鈥淎t first it didn鈥檛 really cause a lot of concern for the doctors. He needed some fluids and complained about his back pain and at that point they gave him some morphine and sent him on his way,鈥� said Shannon. 鈥淭he next night he was in so much pain and they noticed he was getting a rash on the back of his legs and it started to grow really fast. At that point they decided there鈥檚 something else going on.鈥�

That was when the nightmare really began.

鈥淚 had my days and moments, definitely for the first week I was somewhat in shock and I was very much just in the moment,鈥� said Shannon. 鈥淚 was just going from one test to the other just trying to stay focused, my body was just on adrenaline mode. They honestly thought he was going to die and when the doctors think that鈥︹��

There is some thought the infection got into his system through his leg where he regularly gives himself injections for another medical condition.

But what has helped Shannon and the girls has been the overwhelming support from family, friends and even strangers.

鈥淚鈥檓 already working two jobs (Jonathan was taking a course to become a psychiatric nurse), so it鈥檚 really humbling to see people doing anything they can, whether it鈥檚 just a kind word, giving of their time or money, it鈥檚 amazing,鈥� said Shannon. 鈥淚鈥檓 just like so blown away, it鈥檚 so humbling. We have friends dropping off food, someone just dropped off a coffee for me this morning.

鈥淣ormally I鈥檓 pretty stubborn, 鈥榥o thanks, I can do it myself,鈥� but you know what, if someone wants to drop off a meal, yes please, I鈥檇 be happy to accept it.鈥�

Jonathan鈥檚 sister Amy has started a YouCaring page () to help the family.

From all that has happened in the last two weeks to her family, Shannon has had several realizations: 鈥淲e鈥檙e just so fortunate for everyday and to just live life to its fullest. This has really made me realize what is really important in life even though this will be a long road, no matter which direction it takes us in.鈥�