Father battles through coma to see his daughter graduate
‘MIRACLE’ SURVIVAL FILLS CEREMONY WITH TEARS
A DAD battled nine hours of surgery and pulled through a three-month coma to watch his daughter graduate.
John Smith, 62, collapsed at work after suffering several aortic dissections – a condition that is usually fatal.
It was bombshell news for daughter Adele who was completing the final day of her degree studies at Grimsby’s University Centre.
“He underwent nine hours of life-saving surgery to repair the damage caused to these major vessels,” said the 28-year-old.
“As successful as the operation was, several days later my dad remained in a coma. “A CT scan and an EEG examination showed us the lack of blood supply had caused global brain damage so severe that he was unlikely to wake up, or if he did he would require 24 hours personal care.” Three months on, the story of his “miracle” survival filled the mum-of-three’s Town Hall graduation ceremony with tears.
“For nearly three weeks, my dad laid there motionless, silent and unresponsive to pain,” she told graduates.
“Those three agonising weeks we collectively prayed for the flutter of an eye or the squeeze of a hand to offer some hope of him coming back to us.
“So it fills me with absolute joy to have him here today, to watch me on this special occasion.”
John, from Louth, was given just a 5 per cent chance of making it to hospital on the day he collapsed – but after being home for two months is showing positive signs of progress. She said: “I guess this shows how precious life is and we should be grateful for each and every day we have on this earth.” Adele, from Alford, graduated in community mental health last week and hopes to become a teacher.
She thanked her dad, partner Steve Green, three children – Joshua, 3, Oliver, 7, and Keira, 11 – and university staff for their support.
She said: “Aside from my miracle man, we all share one commonality and that is gratitude to the university that realised our potential and opened up the gates of opportunity.
“As bright as our futures are, I believe the future of the University Centre Grimsby and the staff that work within it shine just as bright.”