A Leeds dad is in a coma after having a heart attack aged just 31 while at home with his kids and fiancée.
Matthew Farrar's family, from Seacroft, were left "heartbroken" after he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest on Wednesday April 20. His partner Christie performed CPR and "save her partner's life", a friend said, before an ambulance arrived shortly after.
"It all happened while their three young beautiful girls were at home when it happened. They watched the devastation unfold", life-long friend Laura said.
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Matthew, who has a 10-year-old, five-year-old, and four-year-old daughter, reportedly flatlined nine times, before his heart was operated on and he was put into an induced coma. He was also put on a ventilator to help him breathe, but a few days later his three kids and Christie were told he had damaged lungs and contracted pneumonia.
Explaining upon requested of partner Christie, 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.
"This made me panic, and they put a machine down his throat which lead him to wake up for 24 hours. Doctors are desperately trying their best."
Laura added that things "took a turn for a worse" on Saturday night (May 7). "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", she said.
"Christie is by his side all the time that she could possibly be. I cannot imagine what Christie is going through , it’s heart-breaking, and she still has to be strong for her three girls."
Laura added that she was Christie on Saturday and she said that the next few days are "crucial" for her fiancée to get better or she worries it could be a bad outcome for the family. 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 shop keeper. Matthew works for a construction company and the pair usually share the cost of living between them.
But "with no 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.
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