A former patient who made a miraculous survival following brain surgery is completing a host of gruelling challenges on the tenth anniversary of his injury — as a big thank you to the hospital teams who saved his life.
On 25 October 2013, Sean Dolan, 35, had an accident that saw his skull get fractured and heavily damaged as a result of colliding with a wall while playing football.
He was instantly rushed to The James Cook University Hospital, where the heavy impact on his skull caused severe bleeding to Sean’s brain and he was placed in an induced coma and had a part of his skull removed during surgery on 29 October.
Sean said: “My parents were told I may lose the use of his left side, wake up a different person and then to prepare for the worst. With the care and consultation of James Cook Hospital, I made a recovery that my consultant described as a miracle.”
He said: “Although I don’t remember all my time in hospital or much of the treatment I received, I know they performed miracles on me to ensure I could make the required recovery.”
Ever since his life-saving treatment, Sean, who works as a teacher in St. Joseph’s R C Primary School in Middlesbrough, has fully recovered from his surgery and is living his life to its fullest.
From 25 October to 3 November Sean will be taking on a new challenge each day across Teesside.
His “10 for 10” fundraiser includes:
- An arduous 59km on an exercise bike in James Cook (1km for every day spent in hospital)
- Middlesbrough FC Foundation sponsored 18-mile walk
- Running an Olympic-length triathlon
- Competing in a 10-hour football match
- School children joining Sean to participate in an exciting ten Joe Wicks sessions in five hours
- Taking part in a marathon that includes retracing the entire route his ambulance took while transporting him to James Cook
- Completing 1,000 burpees with family and friends joining to support Sean and many more inspiring events
Sean added:
I will be forever thankful to the hospital wards that treated me ten years ago. No amount of fundraising could ever repay them for ensuring that ten years on, I am still here. I have been incredibly lucky and I want to do my bit to hopefully help others to be as lucky as I was.
“I am also eternally grateful to my family, friends and the local community for all their efforts and hard work in supporting my fundraising journey.”
Lisa Meehan, Our Hospitals Charity added: “Sean’s experience is truly an inspiration to us all.
“We are extremely delighted to be a part of Sean’s fundraising journey and wish him the best of luck.”
Anyone willing to support Sean can donate to his fundraising campaign by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sdtenforten.