http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Help...Chris-Ashton/story-28862133-detail/story.html Bloody tragic. Come on City get in contact. Have a show of support for this kid on Tuesday and through the rest of the season. Guest of honour when he's up on his feet. We're having a Forces Day soon arent we? please log in to view this image FRIENDS who fear a Hull war veteran is "losing the will to live" after undergoing life-saving surgery are calling on people to show him they care. Lance Corporal Chris Ashton, 31, is currently recovering in Hull Royal Infirmary after doctors found fluid on his brain. He has lost the ability to talk and walk and friends fear he has now given up on life. It is the latest battle for survival Mr Ashton, known as Ash, has had to endure since he was hit in the right side of his face by a grenade ten years ago while serving in Basra, Iraq. He lost half his head and an eye. His friend and carer Julian Dennis, of Cottingham, has been by his bedside every day since he was admitted to hospital on February 14. "He shook his head and muttered, 'I can't take it anymore, I've had enough," said Mr Dennis. "He passed me his drip line to disconnect it. It killed me. He's totally broken. He's given up hope." Mr Ashton's current plight is a reminder of just how much he has been through over the past decade. A radio operator with the Royal Logistics Corp, he was attached to The Black Watch when a grenade hit his face at a speed of 1,500mph, shattering his skull, destroying his right eye and causing a brain injury in September 2006. He suffered a number of strokes as doctors operated on his skull afterwards, which have left him paralysed down his left side. After six months in Headley Court Military Hospital and another 18 months in Goole Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre, Mr Ashton came home and rebuilt his life. "They said he would never walk again," said Mr Dennis, a childhood friend. "The Army was everything to him and it had all gone. It took his life away. "He didn't know how he was going to live, he just lived for the Army. But he did, he pushed himself to walk again." Mr Ashton, who now lives in Cottingham, suffered several cases of skin infection cellulitis before a lumbar puncture revealed fluid on his brain last month. He was admitted to intensive care on Valentine's Day amid concerns he had contracted meningitis. He was so distressed, doctors put him into an induced coma, fearing the toll of fighting the infection could lead to a heart attack. "We thought he wasn't going to make the night," said Mr Dennis. While Mr Ashton is no longer fighting for his life, the past six weeks in hospital have affected him badly. "I feel devastated because he has to start again, we have to build him back up again from where he was," said Mr Dennis. "For him to do all that amazing hard work, and then to end up back where he was – it's heartbreaking. "He will have to learn to talk and walk again because his muscles have lost all their strength while he's been in hospital. "It got to a point where he just gave up." Seeing the distress his friend was in, Mr Dennis and other friends, including Len Chappell, who runs veterans directory Forces Online, have been sharing Mr Ashton's plight on social media to show him people care. Since then, cards of support have been flocking in from as far as Australia willing him to fight on. Among his supporters is Dereck Hardman, founder of Hull's Veterans' Breakfast Club, who is determined to raise Mr Ashton's spirits. "He can't do anything he loved to do any more," said Hardman. "He loved customising his car, he loved riding dirt bikes, all gone, and the only thing he could do was talk to people. Now that has been taken away. It's unimaginable how that must be. "After all he's been through, after everything he's sacrificed for his country, he's got to live with that, like that, for the rest of his life."
That's a devastating story & puts into perspective some of the crap we moan about having to endure, on here & other places. Good luck to the lad.
Did some work at his house when he came back from Headley Court. Nice kid and was pretty upbeat. He has a real good set of mates, one gave up his business to become his full time carer. Got a feeling he might be more a rugby fan though. Regardless, he needs to know that he's not forgotten.
The rugby community are pretty good at coming together for things like this! But so should city fans!
A terribly tragic story for a brave young man who had everything to live for and is sadly now losing hope. I have asked my daughter Susan, who is programme director for the Jodi House center in Santa Barbara, which treats and rehabilitates severe brain injury victims, to write to Chris and offer him encouragement. I'm sure others on here will do the same. May God bless you Chris and bring you back to health and happiness.
This isn't new, but the desperation never changes; the HDM have done a good job in highlighting his situation. I am in Hull next week, if anyone has ideas or opportunities I can help with, then PM me.
I asked my daughter Susan who helps run Jodi House, the brain injury support center in Santa Barbara, CA to help this brave young man fight through this dark period in his life (see above). She is already helping Paul Spence, another brain injury survivor from Hull, and has already replied as follows and will do all that she can for Chris. His situation is clearly very serious and I thank any members of this board who can contribute to his recovery.... "Hi Dad Of course I will reach out! I have emailed Paul Spence (the TBI survivor from Hull) to ask him to contact the man as well. I'm going to talk to Jodi House members on Monday and ask them to send messages of support too. I will share the story on Jodi House's Facebook page too and ask people to reach out. It's amazing what love and encouragement can do for someone in a dark place...I'll do all I can to remind him that his life is worth keeping and that there is hope. Thank you for sharing that article"....Love you...Susie xo
Bump. I've never bumped a topic before. But I think this one is worth a reminder. Chris needs our help and encouragement. Thanks.
Thank you Gemma for your lovely message of hope and encouragement for Chris. This brave young man has suffered terribly for his service and deserves all our support. May the Lord fold you in his loving arms and give you the strength to endure and build a long and happy life Chris.
