In Memory of Mike Ince

 On Wednesday 19th December 2018, life as we knew it, changed forever. My husband Mike (aged 29) suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest at home. Mike's heart stopped beating and despite the efforts made by both myself and paramedics performing CPR + several defibrillation shocks, it didn't start again for 40 minutes. We were rushed to hospital in an ambulance and Mike was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit, where he was induced into a coma. This was to preserve Mike's brain, to help prevent damage and to allow his body to recover to the best of it's ability.  Between myself and all of our family and friends, we stayed by Mike's bedside every hour of every day, urging him to wake up and be back with us again.  Mike remained sedated for 8 days and had several scans, tests and countless amounts of different drugs and medication to assist him in his recovery. On day 9 Mike was taken off the sedation and the majority of the other drugs, to assess whether he would regain conciousness and to see what level of recovery he was at. After a few more days, several meetings with consultants, a specialist neurologist and what felt like the longest time of our lives, wishing, and praying with every ounce of hope in the world.. The day came whereby we would be given a verdict on Mike's level of recovery and what life would hold for him now. The devastating news was delivered that due to the lack of oxygen to Mike's brain for 40 minutes following his cardiac arrest, he had suffered a Hypoxic Brain Injury. This injury was to a severe level, whereby Mike would never fully regain conciousness or be able to live any sort of normal life again. The saddest and most frustrating part about it, was that Mike's heart, lungs and all of the rest of his body, below his brain, was perfectly healthy and strong, with the stats of a fit 20 year old.  We all sat, in despair, numb and in shock at what we had heard.  Doctor's made the decision that Mike's life support would come to an end.  We made the decision to donate several of Mike's organs, as he would have wanted to help save the lives of others given the choice. Shortly after, 3 recipient's were found and waited for the call to go for transplant. For a successful transplant to go ahead, there is a 3 hour window from the point of the switching off of life support.  The following day, Mike's ventilator was switched off. He fought so strongly, breathing on his own for over 40 hours, which amazed everybody; as a result, he was unable to donate his organs. Mike sadly passed away on Sunday 6th January 2019. We held a celebration of Mike's life at his funeral on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, whereby an overwhelming number of people came to pay their respects to Mike. It was made so clear, just how many people's hearts that Mike had touched and influenced in his life. Mike was a loving husband, father, son, brother, friend and colleague.. And has left a massive hole in all of our lives. He was an incredibly tall, kind, big hearted, ambitious, beautiful human being, One of a kind.. & was taken from us far too soon. I will see you again one day my honey bee x x x x x x   Sleep Tight & Shine Bright My Love   ***************************************** >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Since losing Mike, life has been hard, to say the least.  This tragedy has taught me one thing however, which it is that life is so precious.. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody! Therefore, as I promised to Mike.. I am going to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST - for Mike ♥  I am taking part in several events over this coming year, in the hope to raise money in memory of Mike, for several charities and with the hope of setting up a Foundation in Mike's name, which can live on as his legacy for the future.  The charities I am raising for are: * CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young -  https://www.c-r-y.org.uk * BHF - The British Heart Foundation - https://www.bhf.org.uk  * MIND - https://www.mind.org.uk  ^^^ Please pay these sites a visit so we can help raise awareness and appreciate the work which they do.  The events I am completing so far this year are: - ALDI Chester 10k on Sunday 10th March 2019 - Essar Chester Half Marathon on Sunday 19th May 2019 - MBNA Chester Marathon on Sunday 6th October 2019 There will be many more other events and adventures which I will be embarking on and I shall update you all nearer to the time when they are booked   So be it £1, £5, £20 or whatever you can spare.. Dig deep and Please sponsor me and donate to these causes, so that research and support can be continued into the future. Thanking you all so much from the bottom of my heart for all the messages of support which I have received from people old and new, wide and far ♥  Steph X #livelifeformike