Danny's story

This put a stop to the bodybuilding, but I turned my attention to Jujitsu and later Judo. However, this wasn’t really the best sport for me, as the anticoagulant treatment meant that I was very prone to injuries such as muscle tears, cuts and bruises. Instead, I focused on road cycling and the benefits of yoga.

Christmas 2012 was a life-changing period for me. Following a couple of very difficult years emotionally, I came down with what I thought was a bug, and things went from bad to worse.

I went to bed on New Year’s Eve and woke around 5am, only to collapse with no coordination when I tried to get up. I remember an ambulance being called and being carried downstairs by the ambulance crew but, from then on, I have two to three months of odd memories: other patients, different wards, false memories, and bits of information other people have told me.

I had developed the worst-case scenario for anyone with APS: catastrophic APS (CAPS). During this time, I was frequently moved between a neurological ward, a high dependency unit, intensive care and a neighbouring specialist hospital. At the time, the mortality rate for CAPS was 50%.

I suffered a stroke, kidney damage due to haemorrhage, adrenal haemorrhage, which caused me to become adrenally insufficient (Addison’s disease), and the neurological infections of hydrocephalus and ventriculitis, which both caused further brain damage.

Initially, day-to-day things became impossible and often left me terrified. I was unable to do anything for myself and had to re-learn things I had taken for granted since childhood, such as speaking and sitting up.

My progression in rehab was slow and frustrating, but I drew on my persistent nature and started swimming initially. I felt safer when swimming as I was constantly in fear of falling due to my balance being impaired. I then worked on a treadmill and exercise bike.

My support worker set me the goal of attending a spinning class within a few months. My balance was and still is a massive issue, but I managed to hit the goal we set and two years on, we both still attend the weekly spin session.

However, the most significant turning point in my rehab was my discovery of Tai Chi. I was far from impressed with the idea to begin with, though, and remember saying: “no way was I doing exercise for old people!” After ten minutes, I was impressed and hooked – I’d found my calling at last. The progress and difference in my day-to-day ability is massive.

I believe that being physically active has given me back a life worth living. During my hospitalisation, I complained all the time that I’d looked after myself, ate well, and kept fit, yet this had happened to me, so what was the point. Yet, I remember a nurse, probably sick of my complaining, saying, “ever thought you might not still be here if you hadn’t?”

I am now a believer in Stoicism, and my personal philosophy is that the difficulties we overcome do, in fact, build and demonstrate a person’s character. We each have power over our own minds, but not outside events; we must simply identify and separate matters into that outside of our control and those we have a choice over.

I realise that if I can survive what I did and live the rewarding full life I now do, despite my difficulties, I can do pretty much anything.