Stephen Sinclair was told he would never be able to play sport again following a major blood clot that almost claimed his life.
But now the 34-year-old from Ashington is set to defy doctors' expectations as he prepares to climb Mount Everest in aid of charity Autism Awareness.
Stephen was just seven years old when he was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) after his left leg began to turn purple and swell up. Doctors said he had a major blood clot from his ankle to his liver that, if left for one more day without medical attention, could have killed him.
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"It was just an out of the blue thing," Stephen said. Doctors couldn't explain why it happened but said if it had been [left] one more day then it would have reached my liver and I probably wouldn't have made it.
"They also seriously considered amputating my leg. My whole leg ended up being purple and my toes were black."
He continued: "My mam had taken me to different doctors and they said it was groin strain because it had started with a pain in my groin and it just developed quickly. Another doctor said it was an irritable hip but my mam said she didn't believe it because my leg wouldn't be turning [that] colour and swelling up.
"She took me to the RVI and that is when they said that it was the blood clot."
After spending weeks in hospital, Stephen was able to return home but doctors said that he would never be able to play sport again. Determined to prove medics wrong, Stephen went on to be an active youngster, becoming a black belt in martial arts.
Now working as a boxing promoter and personal trainer, Stephen is also a keen mountain climber and has spent years taking on some of the most challenging peaks around the world including Machu Picchu and Kilimanjaro. Now, as he gets set to climb the world's highest peak in April next year, Stephen will tackle Aconcagua, known as Argentina's 'Mountain of Death' this Christmas.
"I have defied the odds," he said. "[Doctors] said I would never play sports or even drink alcohol. I think standing on the top of the world on the highest mountain will definitely be a 'stuff you' to the doctors who said I wouldn't be able to do anything."
Stephen will start his Mount Everest climb in April 2023 with the aim of reaching the top by the end of May. But in the run-up to his challenge, he needs to raise £50,000 to cover the cost of the trip, which is sponsored by Dave and Big Narstie - plus funds for the charity Autism Awareness.
He has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise the cash for the trip and will be holding boxing events in aid of the charity. And it's a cause close to his heart, after his three-year-old son, Frankie Sinclair, was diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal. Stephen said he hoped to make his son proud with the challenge.
"He is the most gentle kind soul and is just full of smiles," Stephen said of his son. "This is my way of proving those doctors wrong and giving something back to help others with autism.
"I also want to show people who may suffer from a lack of confidence and self-belief that absolutely anything is possible if you have a strong enough why and set your mind to it."
To donate visit: https://gf.me/v/c/grbk/ctq626-help-me-climb-mount-everest
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