At 52, Michael Bell will never be able to work or drive again.
"It's a struggle - very hard," said Michael, of East Maitland.
Michael worked at a Hunter coalmine for 13 years, driving big trucks and graders.
"I loved my job, following my kids at footy and taking them to the beach, pool and park," he said.
Michael is still recovering from a stroke. He said his predicament was difficult for his mum and four kids.
"It's hard that I can't change that for them. It's going to be very hard financially," he said.
Kylie Bell, Michael's best friend and former wife, has organised a GoFundMe for him, titled "The Michael Bell Fundraiser".
A fundraiser will also be held at The Regal Inn at Tenambit on Saturday, November 23.
On July 9, Michael suffered a stroke. Son Kruz called mum Kylie, who rushed to their house and did CPR while paramedics arrived.
"They couldn't admit clot busters straight away because his blood pressure was through the roof. We knew he was in pain," Kylie said.
The following day, in John Hunter Hospital, Michael suffered a brain bleed.
"It was so close to his brain stem - a centimetre away," Kylie said.
"If it had moved down, he'd be dead. The prognosis wasn't great.
"I don't know if the angels in heaven said 'we're not ready for you yet'. He did 10 weeks in rehab at Rankin Park. They are amazing."
Michael was left with a brain injury and impaired vision.
He has an NDIS plan, but his superannuation fund would not cover him for total and permanent disability or income protection due to being a type 1 diabetic.
Doctors didn't expect him to be able to move.
"He can walk, but his left arm is still very weak," Kylie said.
"He has aphasia - trouble finding words. It's a speech problem, not a language problem.
"He just laughs at himself. It didn't steal his personality, that's for sure. Aphasia will probably always be with him."
Michael said he was "trying to be positive".
"I'm trying to make some good out of a shit situation. In reality, I shouldn't be where I am," he said.
"I understand the stroke wasn't good. I know the brain bleed nearly killed me. I'm so grateful to be here.
"I still have a long road ahead with therapists to get as healthy as possible."
He's happy that he can spend time with his kids, family and friends, and "watch my two little ones, Kruz and Jamaica, grow up and finish school".
He hoped to see his daughters, Indii and Jamaica, get married one day.
"Hopefully I'll see some grandbabies and my boy Storme finish uni," he said.
Michael thanked Kylie for her help.
"She had everyone's back while I was in John Hunter and rehab," he said.
He said his family's support had been "amazing".
"Some days I could hear them, but couldn't speak to them. I'd lost that ability for a while.
"Honestly my little family is everything to me. Without them I wouldn't have got through it.
"As long as I can have more time with them, keep them safe and happy, I'm a grateful happy man."
