A devoted daughter has pledged to take her dad home to Northern Ireland 'for one last time' after learning that his cancer is now terminal.
Des McCrory left his hometown of Gortin, Co Tyrone, at the age of 15 to seek his fortune, eventually settling down in the North East of England.
He has spent 40 happy years in the Heaton area of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne raising a family of five with his wife Susan, but his family say "his heart has always belonged to his native land".
Now after a devastating illness has left him unsure how much time he has left, his family are determined to take the 71-year-old on one last pilgrimage home.
Des was first diagnosed with lung cancer seven years ago.
His daughter Bernie said: "It was detected by accident after he had an injury at work which resulted in him breaking his ribs.
"He had to undergo some intense radiotherapy and chemotherapy which was tough on him but it was a success."
After making a full recovery and being in remission, Des went back to his work with a civil engineering company, but hadn't been back long when a dizzy spell resulted in him falling and hitting his face against a wall.
The hospital performed a scan on his head as a matter of routine, and although it was clear for facial and skull injuries, doctors discovered something far more sinister.
"After further tests and scans it was diagnosed that he had a brain tumour," said Bernie.
Des underwent brain surgery to remove the tumour followed by more radiotherapy - and had another operation last November when a new tumour was discovered.
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Bernie added: "He was taken for his post-op scan and when they compared it to pre-op, it appeared that the time in between both scans he had suffered a mild stroke."
Des and his family were faced with more heartache when he went on to suffer four more strokes within six weeks of the operation, reports the Chronicle.
And last month the family were given the worst news possible following another routine scan.
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Bernie said: "We heard the words we dreaded the most. 'We are sorry, you are now a terminally ill cancer patient'.
"No discussions of treatment or options to consider, just the devastating news that this was it.
"We are not sure of the time he has left however there is fluid and inflammation around the tumour which would indicate that things are quickly happening.
"All of his life he has done good for people, he has held lots of charity events over the years and even during his own treatment held a charity event and raised nearly £8,000 for the Maggie’s centre at the Freeman Hospital."
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Now Bernie is trying to organise one last trip to Ireland for Des - to see his family and say goodbye to his homeland.
She said: "His heart has always belonged to his native land and he has gone forward and back as often as possible. All of our childhood school holidays were spent there, where he has his siblings and extended family.
"Unfortunately he is unable to fly back to Ireland now, but I know with the right transport and accommodation to suit his needs this can be possible."
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