A 33-year-old Google worker whose broken arm was failing to heal found out he has brain cancer that left him bed-bound for months.
James McGill's weight ended up dropping to just 37kg - and he fought back after doctors gave him 24-48 hours to live back in May.
The Senior Account Manager, who works in Dublin in Google's media team, said he broke his arm a couple of years ago but it never seemed to heal properly.
Then in December he started to lose power in his left leg and found himself tripping up a lot.
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| Due to lockdown, James has not been able to have any visitors apart from his parents (Image: James McGill) |
Soon after, James lost the ability to swallow or drink.
James went into hospital in January and after an MRI, he learned the devastating news that he has lymphoma in his brain.
But he continues to fight and is determined to be home for Christmas.
James' friends have set up a gofundme page for him, hoping to raise £100k for the renovations needed to make his house livable for his condition.
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| Friends are fundraising to adapt his home so it's easier for him to live when he is discharged from hospitalCredit: GoFundMe |
Telling his story, James said: "I broke my arm a couple of years ago, but it never seemed to heal properly.
"I slowly started to lose movement in it so went to see a few consultants, but they didn't really have an answer.
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| James has been bedbound in hospital for several months after his diagnosis in DecemberCredit: GoFundMe |
"Last December I slowly started to lose power in my left leg and found myself tripping up a lot. So I booked myself in for an MRI scan and they found a lesion on my brain.
"When I heard the results I was at my parents' house. I took the call and just broke down in my dad's arms when I told him what it was.
"It wasn't long after that when I lost the ability to swallow or drink.
"They did an operation to find out what it was, and it turned out to be lymphoma. I've been bed-bound ever since."
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| He lost the ability to swallow or drink (Image: James McGill) |
Due to lockdown, James has not been able to have any visitors apart from his parents.
He said: "I couldn't even tell them in person because they weren't allowed in that day. I had to tell them on FaceTime.
"By May I was drastically underweight – I had gone from 60kg to 37kg in the space of a few months.
"At one point the doctors said I had 24 hours to live – but I didn't know anything about it. I was hallucinating that I was having dinner with Kim Kardashian in London.
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| He was told he had just 24 hours to live after his weight dramatically plummeted Credit: GoFundMe |
"Somehow I managed to pull through, and I think I'm slowly getting a bit better.
"I had multiple rounds of chemo which was a huge battle on the body and mind. Each time I fought hard. The medical team here in Beaumont have been amazing.
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| James has been in hospital throughout lockdown and unable to see friends or familyCredit: GoFundMe |
"I now want to get home for Christmas. That's the target. After where I was, it would mean everything if I could do it.
"The house needs loads of adjustments to make it livable. I'll need hoists on the ceiling, extensions downstairs, it'll be a lot of work.
"My friends set up the GoFundMe to get me some presents because they knew I was miserable and I had told them I didn't like the hospital towels.
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| James, pictured last year, was slowly starting to lose movement in his arm Credit: GoFundMe |
"It's overwhelming to see how much money has been raised so far. It's really given me a boost over the past few days because it shows how many people are in my corner."
The fundraising page set up for James says: "I don't think any of us have ever seen anyone fight as hard as James does every day.
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"He was given 24-48 hours to live back in May and since then he has defied all
odds that have been put against him and is focused on one goal, getting out of
that hospital bed and going home for Christmas with his family."
To donate to the gofundme, click here.
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