I waved husband off to work and then both our lives changed completely

A family’s life “changed” in an “instant” after a dad-of-two suffered a stroke while at work. Nicky Everitt received a call to say her husband, Simon Everitt, 55, who she had ”waved off” to work just hours before, had collapsed.

Simon, from Parkgate, Wirral, was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital, where it was discovered he had suffered a stroke caused by a subarachnoid haemorrhage, which is a severe bleed on the brain. The haemorrhage has left him completely paralysed on the right side, unable to speak, swallow, or eat.

Nicky, 43, who has two children with Simon: Kai, 19, and Gina, 14, said: “On Friday, June 21, life as we knew it changed in an instant. That morning, my husband Si and our son Kai left for work as usual. We all said our goodbyes expecting to see each other later but shortly after midday I received a devastating phone call telling me Si had collapsed at work.

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“I rushed to The Ship where Si had been working to find paramedics surrounding him. He had suffered a massive stroke caused by a subarachnoid haemorrhage - a severe brain bleed. Si was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital, we were told that the bleed was one of the largest they had ever seen. It left him completely paralysed on the right side, unable to speak, swallow, or eat. Doctors warned us that Si’s condition was critical and that he might not survive the next few days.”

Despite the doctor’s fears Simon, who is a self-employed painter and decorator working at The Ship in Neston at the time of the incident, has started to make “small bits” of progress. Close family friend, Vicki Charnley, 47, also from Parkgate, told the ECHO: “Over the past three months he has suffered from pneumonia, multiple infections and he’s even had covid. He is still completely paralysed and he’s not talked since he’s been in there [the hospital]. He is being fed through a peg in the stomach. He can't eat, swallow or talk. It was only this week that Nicky said he managed to swallow a teaspoon of custard which is really good progress.”

Nicky, who met Simon over 20 years ago, added: “The doctors told us that Si will likely need a wheelchair for the rest of his life and the chances of him walking or talking again are slim. However, with the love and support of our family and friends we remain hopeful and believe in Si’s ability to overcome the odds.”

Vicki told the ECHO how her friend’s world turned “upside down” when she got the call to say her husband had collapsed. She said: “Nicky is up and down, she can have moments where she will feel good about progress but then she panics that it'll go backwards. She's not waiting to get too excited but she’s a scouse girl, we put our lippy on and crack on.

“It was such a shock because there was nothing wrong with Si. She waved him off to work that morning, she was driving to Tesco to get some bits for that night, then next minute her world turned upside down when she got a phone call saying he's collapsed at work.

“It was a total shock for her, she went straight into that ‘what will I do without him’ way of thinking. They’ve been together for years and years. When I got to the hospital her 19-year-old son was there, he just looked so vulnerable, it was like he was a toddler again. They were beside themselves.”

Si’s son, Kai, had text Vicki saying “my dad’s had a stroke, he’s not well. My mum is in bits as am I, we're a wreck.” Vicki said: “I read it four times thinking he meant his grandad at first. I phoned Nicky and asked if I could come to the hospital. I knew it must be bad because she wanted me there.” Vicki has organised a GoFundMe to help the family with Simon’s recovery, you can donate here.