Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dad wakes from coma to meet newborn son
Jonny’s miracle recovery from brain injury
A MAN who spent three months in a coma made a miracle recovery to wake up and discover he was a dad. Jonny Little was left fighting for his life when he was hit on the head by a piece of steel he was working with. His fiancee Arlene was pregnant at the time and maintained a bedside vigil after the accident. The 30-year-old said: “My son needed a father and I needed to get well enough to be his dad. “But I missed his birth because I was unconscious. “I was lying in a coma and my fiancee was in with me every day. “I know she was away from me for a week and when she came back she was a mum and I was a dad and we had a beautiful son. “But I still had to wake up. It was so hard on Arlene.” The day before Jonny sustained the brain injury his fiancee had finished work to go on maternity leave. He cannot remember what happened and has only managed to piece much of it together from conversations with colleagues. He added: “I was given a piece of steel to fold and it broke. “Part of it flew up and hit me full force on the head.” The Co Tyrone man was rushed to hospital for emergency care and even after he woke up three months later it took another three weeks before he was able to walk. But he was still dogged by memory loss and confusion. He said: “Because I’d been in a coma I had to learn how to walk and talk again and then get down to some serious parenting.” Jonny’s life changed for ever in October 2010 when he was 23 and seven years later he is still recovering. His driving force and greatest support remain son Jay-j and Arlene, who is now his wife. He added: “They helped me every step of the way. “In fact with the help of three hospitals, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and the Cedar Foundation I was back at work before Arlene finished her maternity leave. “I am still learning more and more each day and I still have problems with moods and emotions. I can be a little hyper and then feel a bit down.” But he said Arlene helps him cope and added: “In my eyes my wife is a legend. We’ve been together 17 years and she’s been with me every step of the way.” Now working full-time again, he said: “The Cedar Foundation contacted me in January 2011 and I met with them every week to talk about issues I was experiencing. “Through those meetings I was able to talk through challenges and learn coping strategies for problems including memory loss.” Now the family has welcomed its newest member – baby Skye who is just six months old. Jonny added: “I hope if there are others in my circumstances they don’t give up. I’m proof you can achieve when you believe.” The Cedar Foundation’s Inclusion Works service helps people with brain injuries in Northern Ireland to improve employability skills and social inclusion, enter employment or voluntary work and achieve qualifications.
My son needed a father and I needed to get well to be his dad JONNY LITTLE CO TYRONE