His central line was moved every time he suffered an infection. "One arm, then the right arm, left side of the neck then the right side, then back to the arm," said Mrs Knight. "Every time it got an infection they would shift it."
The infections caused sudden fevers, and his kidneys and other organs began to fail.
The health board's head of general surgery, Andrew Connolly, said that although Mr Knight had central line-associated bacteraemia (clab) blood infections at times, the main reason for his long stays in hospital was the series of operations to control severe infections in his abdomen. Mr Connolly said before a project to eradicate clab began in 2008, the infections were common. Now, they are rare.
The series
Five years of hospital death rates have been made public for the first time - in the Herald. We compare health boards, investigate where lives are being lost and the battle to save them.
This week
Monday - District health boards compared, is death rate linked to healthcare quality, and how a simple checklist helps surgeons to avoid mistakes.
Tuesday - Waitemata DHB boosts heart-care capacity. A bereaved father questions medical justice.
Wednesday - Waikato DHB strives to understand its high death rate, medication safety, and a doctor's apology.
Yesterday - Palliative care helps Auckland DHB's good performance. A widow fights for changes.
Today - Obesity skews the statistics in South Auckland. Lives saved by reduction of blood infections.