A family have had their lives turned upside down after a dad-of-three aged just 31 had a heart. Matthew Farrar is now in a coma in hospital.
Matthew was at home with his children and fiancée when he collapsed on April 20. Christie, his partner, performed CPR, which saved his life, a friend said, before an ambulance arrived.
Lifelong friend Laura told LeedLive that his girls "watched the devastation unfold". Matthew, of Seacroft, Leeds, has three girls, aged 10, five and four. He reportedly 'flatlined' nine times before he was operated on and put into an induced coma.
Matthew was then put on a ventilator. After a few days, however, it was confirmed that he had damaged lungs and had pneumonia.
Speaking on behalf of the family, friend Laura said: "Doctors managed to stabilise him and they thought he had signs of fighting this. Sedation was lifted a little for Matthew to see how he coped on his own."
She said Matthew then regained consciousness for 24 hours, but on Saturday (May 7), things "took a turn for the worse".
Laura said: "Unfortunately he became very irritated, affecting his breathing and heart rate and had to be put back under sedation. Shortly after this Matthew had another cardiac arrest, he is now back to a stable position but still in a coma.
"Christie is by his side all the time that she could possibly be. I cannot imagine what Christie is going through, it’s heartbreaking, and she still has to be strong for her three girls."
Laura added that the next few days were "crucial" for Matthew. It is suspected he may have to have a heart transplant.
On top of dealing with Matthew's condition, Christie is managing her time between hospital visits, looking after he children, and working. The mum-of-three works part time as a shopkeeper. Matthew works for a construction company and the pair usually share the cost of living between them.
But "with not much coming in" the family are struggling to pay their bills, rent, and put food on the table. Laura decided to set up a Go Fund Me page to help the couple and wants to raise £2,500 to "ease up" things for them.
She said: "I would like to just make things a bit easier for the family and for them not to have to worry about paying bills, rent and food as they are obviously both not able to go to work while having the kids too. You don’t ever think a thing like this is going to happen to you.
"My heart is breaking for them."
To donate to the Go Fund Me for Matthew and family click here.
