As many of you may now already know, on the 4th January this year, our lives were turned upside down and we were faced with me losing mine. 

 I collapsed at home following multiple days suffering with shortness of breath, which caused Lauren to call 999 for emergency attention. 

Fortunately, both Lauren and Myla were at home when I collapsed in order to call for help, had it of been a few days later, I would have been home alone and not so lucky, most likely not here to write this. 

Once the emergency services were called, two incredible women came to my aid and rushed me off to QMC hospital to seek further medical attention, both of which I will be forever grateful for. 

Unfortunately whilst at hospital, it was confirmed that I was suffering from severe blood clots which resulted in enduring 5 cardiac arrests and major bleeding which led to my wife and family being told to say goodbye and that I was highly unlikely to make it through the night. 

Following numerous procedures, major blood loss and a 2% chance of surviving, I made it through the night and made it into critical care under the tremendous protection of what I call angels on earth, who cared for me at my worst and most vulnerable stage, ensuring I was as comfy, clean and as safe as I could be, despite not being out of the woods just yet. There were still many days of uncertainty, further major blood loss, plus my prolonged coma and the tough call of whether I would be able to come back around, have to be “switched off”, or if I were to pull through, would I be “me”. 

Despite the odds, I came back around, albeit with liver, kidney, lung and heart failure, accompanied with neurological damage and the inability to walk or even move unaided…

However, there were positive signs after being able to identify Lauren, Myla and other family and friends, when we were advised I may not, although I came back with a few differences. 

Once the sedation was reduced and I started to come around to reality, I was transferred to Nottingham City Hospital, where many more weeks of tests, tubes, drips, dialysis and medication were administered, eventually followed by physio to learn to walk again as a result of mass muscle loss and extreme fragility following a prolonged bed rest, trauma and procedures. 

Although the worst is behind us and the severity is now in the distance, there is still a long, long road to a full recovery and is accompanied with many future checks ups, hospital trips, lifelong medication and inevitable worry of reoccurrence, plus absolutely shocking short term memory! 

The worst has passed, physically I’m back, arguably fitter, stronger, healthier and better than before…However, mentally and neurologically I’m far from being “Dec”, I’m still a work in progress and I may never be “Dec” again.

 I still have many, many other things to overcome and struggles to deal with following all of the above, but for now I’m focusing on this and raising as much money as possible so that these angels can carry on the incredible care that I received, in the hope that other people will be as lucky as I am, being able to see Myla grow up and still have a Daddy and that Lauren still has her husband as we approach our 5th wedding anniversary. 

I literally owe my life to this team, so please donate what you can to help save another life. 

Thank you!