Positivity, determination and Persistence.

One year ago today, my life changed in a way that myself or my family and close friends could ever imagine. To cut an incredibly long story short and to hopefully give some motivation to even one person, this is my story of the past year...

After waking up with severe double vision, waking up feeling unusually lethargic and waking up strangely out of breath, I called an ambulance for the first time in my life. I was taken to my local hospital. Wexham Park, in Berkshire.

I spent three days there, confused and with staff not knowing what was wrong with me I began to worry. I had scans, blood tests and different medication given to me to keep whatever was wrong 'under control.' I don't remember much about being at Wexham Park as my symptoms were worsening by the second and to this day it's still hazy.

I don't know why or how and I hate not knowing who it was but someone at John Radcliffe Hospital came across my file, knew exactly what was wrong with me and demanded I be rushed to Oxford. I have a faint image of myself being lifted into an ambulance and then blacking out. Before I left Wexham Park, my family were informed that I was being hurried to John Radcliffe and they made a quick journey there to wait for me. My father, who at the time had no idea what was happening to me, has since told me that 10 minutes in to his trip to Oxford, he saw the lights on my ambulance rush past him. He said that was the single, worst moment of his life. Watching his eldest son being taken to hospital under blue lights at speed, not knowing if I would make it.

I woke up 7 days later.

I had a Tracheostomy, which is somewhat of a common procedure, but to wake up with a tube in my neck, struggling to breath and not knowing where I was came as an incredible shock to me. Out of panic, I tried pulling the 'thing' out of my neck as well as the several cannulas I had in both arms, making myself bleed and bruise. After being calmed down with God knows what drugs and medication, a consultant explained to me what had happened and they discussed a plan as to what to do.

I was told I had Neuro-Beh?et's disease. A very uncommon disease but a very treatable one and I was told that I'd have to have Chemotherapy. Upon hearing that word, my family and I automatically thought of the worst. Cancer. Forgive my ignorance, but at the time I didn't know that Chemotherapy was used for different diseases and illnesses, I was so relieved to find out I didn't have Cancer. It sounds selfish and although there was still slight uncertainty about my condition, I was relieved.

I spent the next 3 weeks undergoing test after test, scan after scan, taking drug after drug. I had gone from just over 11st in weight down to just under 9st in that short time. I had fatigue, extreme double vision, I could only communicate via pen and paper, I couldn't move or look after myself properly and I was unable to eat. Being fed through a tube for that long was a pain in my arse as I love my food! With unbelievable help, advice, treatment, support and care, the staff at John Radcliffe hospital truly did save my life.

I was given 7 different treatments of Chemotherapy over the forthcoming months. For anyone who has had Chemotherapy, you will know what it does to your body. You will know how low it makes you feel. You will know how nauseous, how tired, how simply fed up and depressed it makes you feel. I continue to take steroids today, I continue to have regular blood tests and I continue to take 3-4 different tablets each morning. This past year has been incredibly difficult and it has taken me so, so long to get even the slightest bit close to being back to normal.

Every single person at Wexham Park Hospital who initially looked after me needs a special mention but an even bigger thank you is needed for the medical team at John Radcliffe Hospital. It truly is an incredible hospital. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the surgeons, doctors, nurses, porters and even the cleaning staff. The NHS is an outstanding service and so many people in this country take it for granted. If I had to have paid for my healthcare, costs would have been simply unpayable.

In connection with illness, there have been personal battles that my family and close friends know about and there have been personal battles that only I have faced. It has been incredibly hard but throughout all what I have been through, I have remained focused, positive, thankful and determined to get back to how I was before. I spent just over a month in hospital with nothing but thoughts about where my life would lead once I got out. I had an unfathomable amount of support from my family. They made the 65 mile round trip every single day, worrying with stress, not sleeping with confusion as to what's going to happen, losing money from missing work, all to come and visit me and keep me going. It was that support that helped me through.

A lot of people reading this will think to themselves that things like this happen everyday, what's the big deal? I am aware they do. I am also aware that there are people who have been in a much, much worse situations than me. Knowing this could've been so much worse was a big factor in me remaining so positive. Since leaving hospital, I have completely changed who I am as a person. I was always happy with who I was and where I was heading but I have a clearer outlook now. 

I met a stunning woman one week before I fell ill and we kept in contact while I was in hospital. Over this past year, I have fallen madly in love with her and her daughter and moved out of my flat and in to their home. I plucked up the courage and changed careers and although having no experience in the industry, I was shown a lot of faith and given a chance to show what I can do by three amazing directors (Is that classed as kissing arse?) at a company I hope I'm at for a long time. They have given me an opportunity and continued support to build a career and for that I'm thankful. I have visited 3 new countries. Poland, France and Mexico and have experienced an unbelievable wealth of history, culture, people, food and drink. I even swam with Dolphins which has always been on my bucket list! I have got myself fit enough to slowly start playing football again as I have missed it more than I thought. I'm still a bit chubby around my hips from the steroids but I'm slowly getting back to my old self! I have worked really hard to book a trip to Disneyworld in Florida over Easter next year. I have worked really hard to pay off the finance on my car. I have also worked really hard to save a small amount of money which is going toward a deposit for a house eventually.

This isn't me showing off. This is me hopefully showing that if someone can go through what I have been through, having the right frame of mind, giving yourself a goal, focussing, remaining positive and a having good attitude then you can achieve your personal goals. No matter how big or small. I have achieved what I have aimed for this past year through sheer persistence and determination. I understand everyone is different and not everyone has opportunities but find out what you need to do to better yourself, find out what will make you happy and don't stop until you've achieved it. Keep telling yourself that you will get there. I have. Even if it is something trivial like getting up an hour early to go for that run you've been saying you'd go on or meeting up with an old friend you've promised you would for ages. Devise a plan, tell yourself what needs to be done and remain determined to achieve it.

I can't thank my family enough for the support and love they have shown me. My friends have been incredible and so were the staff at both hospitals. I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Lee Hunt.