A dad-of-two who went to work one day and had a life-changing heart attack has "never really woken up" his devastated partner said.
Adored scaffolder Danny Brogden was in his early 30s when he suddenly collapsed 18 months ago.
He survived a catastrophic brain injury after the organ was starved of oxygen for about 15 minutes - but life hasn't been the same since.
The parent has been bedbound unable to talk, walk or eat ever since.
Natalie Isodje told TeessideLive that she hasn't given up hope that dad Danny can get some of his old life back.
She is hoping to raise the funds to buy two vital pieces of equipment to help make him more comfortable and hopefully allow him to communicate with his children again.
Opening up about the family's heartache, Natalie spoke of how Danny, 35, had struggled with his mental health following the tragic death of a friend.
The couple had found and attempted to resuscitate one of Natalie's close friends, who tragically is said to have taken her own life.
"After that Danny started drinking," she said. "He kept having night terrors and we tried to get help for him.
"He was really struggling and it was really difficult so we did split up for a bit. We were still speaking and he was getting help and support. We'd been together 15 years. One day, he went to work and he had a heart attack randomly.
"There was no oxygen to his brain for around 15 to 16 minutes." In the immediate aftermath, Danny showed some signs of coming around, but devastatingly Natalie, said he's "never really woken up again".
"He's breathing himself now. He's only a young lad. It's just absolutely awful.
"Danny wasn't the same after [my friend's death] and I think it really affected him. I went through it myself. We've had a really horrible few years," added Natalie, who is a children's A&E nurse at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
"When I talk about it now, it is as if it's not me, it's hard to explain. We miss him every day, we all do. He's the love of my life. We've been together since we were kids."
The pair have been together for over 15 years and have two children, Piper, 13, and seven-year-old Denholm. Describing Danny before the tragedy, Natalie said: "He's brilliant. A lovely, really funny lad- he always made everyone laugh.
"He was the centre of attention and just a really, lovely caring lad. He loved his kids and me, we were going to get married but it's all gone out of the window. It's just so sad. We go with the children twice a week to see him but it is really hard."
The children's nurse is now hoping to raise around £7,000 to funds a Toto mattress, to help make him more comfortable, and an Eyegaze tablet so that he can communicate with his family. "My little boy and my little girl miss him so much.
"He can't communicate with us. I've been researching and there is a special computer you can get called an eyegaze and he can use it to communicate through his eyes.
"He doesn't speak but his eyes are open. If he had this piece of equipment he could go into it with his eyes and talk to us."
Danny was previously in the army but left with his daughter piper was born. He went on to become a scaffolder. Natalie spoke of the vicious circle where he appears to be making some small improvements but is then struck down with another illness.
The mum has revealed her turmoil of wanting to bring Danny home, but not being strong enough to move him or able to look after him around the clock. She also feared the impact it will have on their two children.
He's currently being cared for at The Bridge Neurological Care and Rehab, in Middlesbrough.
So far about £1,400 had been donated to support the Acklam family.
"Having this equipment would make such a huge difference. It'll put me at ease and the kids," said Natalie.
"If he can communicate with the kids it would be the best thing ever. I want him to say 'Natalie this is hurting or I don't feel well'. Just little things because you don't know.
"He's tried to talk to me. I asked him if he loved me and he's said yes.. But he's been really poorly again for the last couple of weeks and has been back in A&E. You start getting somewhere and then he gets really ill again.
"It's like groundhog day. You wake up and think it's all alright and then you remember it's not."
To donate to the GoFundMe page click here.
