In January 2016 I was taken to dundonald hospital where I was admitted to ICU. After spending several weeks here things took a turn for the worst and I ended up in a coma fighting for my life.

My family were told I was the sickest man in the country and that there was a possibility of me being transferred to a hospital in Leicester for ecmo treatment to help improve my lung function.

Before I was about to be transferred I suffered a collapsed lung which meant I no longer qualified for the treatment as the chance of Survival was minimal. Whilst suffering the collapsed lung this also caused multiple organ failure which meant I was being kept alive by hospital machines.

I remained in the coma for almost 2 weeks and during these weeks there was many set backs however the doctors and nurses continued to work tirelesly to save my life.

Slowly I showed signs of improvement which meant my sedation levels were reduced and I relied less and less on the machines to keep me alive. It was by chance that after showing significant improvement that the dialysis machine stopped working which prompted the doctors to keep it off and see how my kidneys functioned alone. This was a great step forward as they were working normally and slowly each day a different machine was disconnected.

This was only the beginning of my recovery journey as I had to learn how to do basic things all over again such as talking, walking, body movement and washing meself etc.

Without the tireless efforts of the doctors and nurses in ICU I might not have lived to see this day and although at the time things seemed to be tough I am here now liv No a full and healthy life.

Please support me on my journey to give something back to this amazing hospital and the Medical team who would not give on their quest to save my life.

Thanks in advance for your support and I hope to see you all at my charity fundraiser for ICU at Ulster hospital on 22nd July in Bangor football club

Xx Stephen