'Miracle' man Terry Burrell wants to return to Grain home to die
13:09, 21 April 2021
updated: 08:19, 22 April 2021
Warning: This story contains a distressing image
A dad who has survived eight heart attacks, suffered major organ failure and had his legs amputated, has made an emotional plea to his wife to let him come home to die.
As reported last month, Terry Burrell, who has spent the last six years undergoing gruelling surgery and fighting for his life, has been dubbed "miracle man" by his close-knit family.
Several times they have been told to prepare for the worst and say their last goodbyes to the 54-year-old.
On the last occasion, Lorraine, 44, his partner of 25 years, had to make the agonising decision of turning his life-saving kidney dialysis machine off or prepare for more amputations.
Describing him as a "true fighter", the mum-of-three chose to let Terry undergo more operations which they pray will prolong his life by a few months.
This week, Terry – a previously healthy CCTV engineer – had a finger removed at St Thomas's Hospital, London, where he has been for five weeks battling for survival.
It is one of multiple operations he will have to undergo before being allowed back to his home in Grain in hopefully, two weeks time.
Lorraine said: "He is my man of steel who just keeps coming back. Up to now he has kept his sense of humour and even tried to crack a few jokes.
"But now he's depressed, much of the time lying there alone watching football on television.
"He knows he's not got long and just wants to come home to die with his family beside him."
Lorraine and children, Lee, 25, Chloe, 24, and Becky, 14, are preparing for his return with the support from social services and medical teams who are adapting their home in Seaview.
Carers will visit twice daily and he will needed to be taken by ambulance to Medway Maritime Hospital three times a week for specialised dialysis,
The family plan to spoil him rotten when he does get back with his favourite meals and tipple.
Lorraine said :"He loves Thai food and a steak and he's asked for a lager and light ale, a drink he's not had for about 10 years."
The family say they have been on a "rollercoaster of emotions" as they have watched him battle on.
During a visit last month, Terry had a heart attack and stopped breathing for 10 minutes before their eyes as an emergency team fought to revive him.
Lorraine added: "We were ushered outside and were screaming 'fight' and 'don't go'."
Apart from her determination to get the husband she married two years ago back home, she has another mission – to raise funds for the medical staff who have kept him alive.
She has so far raised more than £600 and on her twice-weekly trips to the hospital hands out bags full of homemade cakes and chocolates.
If you would like to donate to the cause, visit this page.
