Stuart's seven-week ordeal after operation

The popular 33-year-old has made a tremendous recovery after complications with a routine operation at Craigavon Hospital.

His family and friends looked on helplessly as Stuart fought a determined fight for his life in intensive care. Following an inspirational recovery Stuart faced a further battle, a six-week ordeal which saw 52 litres of bile removed from his body.

Stuart finally made it home to his wife Sharon and daughters Sophie and Chloe on Thursday, July 29.

On Monday, June 14 the Toberhewny Lodge man went to Craigavon Hospital to have gall stones removed. He told the ‘MAIL’: “It was meant to be a day procedure. They put me on a ward that night. I wasn’t too well - I was being sick, the usual stuff. “

On Tuesday Stuart deteriorated further and that night he ended up in ICU.

"Basically what my dad said was in the space of an hour I went from recovering on the ward to being critical in intensive care,” said Stuart.

“I didn't wake up again until Father's Day (Sunday, June 20). I knew nothing about what had happened. I thought it was still the Monday.

"I'd been awake and chatting on Monday night but I can remember nothing. Since then I've checked my phone and saw that I was texting boys about how football training was going. I was that far gone I remember none of it. It must have been the morphine."

"Wednesday was the worst," said Sharon. "We didn't think he was going to make it."

“The days I was in ICU I can remember nothing,” said Stuart. “I didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t find out until later there’d been complications with the operation. The nurses said it’s better for the patients if they can't remember anything."

"But his family are scarred for life," added Sharon. “He was barely moving and couldn’t open his eyes.”

Stuart was moved out of intensive care not long after he came round and proved he was strong enough to go back onto the ward.

When discussing his recovery with one of the surgeons football-crazy Stuart set himself a target.

The 33-year-old explained: "I said, 'I want out to watch the World Cup - I want to be out in time to see the final'. He said, 'We'll set that as your target - at least you're well focused'."

Stuart spent the next six weeks in Ward Four South battling with a bulge that had formed in his stomach.

He said: “A scan came back and showed a lot of bile had gathered in my stomach. I had a tube up my nose to drain it out. There was 52 litres came out.

“My stomach was massive, some would say it was massive before, but with all the bile it was sticking away out - this big, hard lump.

“I was off all food and drink. I lost three stone. There’s no need for pre-season training this year,” he joked.

He continued: “After all the bile had come out, another scan showed that a pseudo-cyst has formed. It was 15 centimetres in size. I’ve got a drain put in to reduce that.”

Speaking of how they got through the seven weeks, Sharon said: “Facebook was good for me. I got 93 text messages when news got round of what had happened. Instead of replying to all of them I was able to post an update on Facebook for people to read. I was able to keep people informed that way. Everyone was praying for him - the messages of support were unbelievable.”

Stuart said: "Sometimes you think people don't care, but it was amazing to see the comments posted on Facebook. People were so genuine. The support was overwhelming.

"My family kept me going and the support from my friends was very important too."

Stuart's final message from hospital on Thursday, July 29, read, ‘After seven weeks, 25 drips, seven tubes up my nose and three stone lost in weight. Stuarty is going home to be with his girls’.

Stuart’s wife and two daughters - Sophie (5) and Chloe (3) – were regular visitors to his hospital bed. Chloe's third birthday was on July 18 and it was celebrated in hospital.

Sharon said: “The two girls were oblivious to a whole lot of stuff. They never saw him until he was out of intensive care.”

She added: “They came up with a name for the drip that was up his nose. They talked about ‘daddy's trunk’. They adapted well to hospital life.”

Since his release from hospital Stuart is back on solid food and hoping to get back to the old routine as soon as possible. Stuart is aiming for a swift return to his business, The Beautiful Game sports shop based in Mourneview. His brother Scott has been looking after it in his absence.

Stuart, who is the longest serving player at Lurgan Town FC with an amazing 21 years service to the club, added: “I'm hoping to play football again before Christmas, though not if my wife or my mum have their way.”