A family was left 'distraught' when a man was rushed to hospital after coming out of his room at home "screaming in agony." Lee Parkinson, 26, began to experience pains in his stomach and put it down to a virus at first.
But when his condition rapidly deteriorated, dad Frank knew something was seriously wrong. Rushing him to hospital, Frank said it was an "emotional rollercoaster".
Frank told the Liverpool ECHO: "It was a two-hour wait, but he started going pale and sweating. He was grey."
Doctors rushed Lee for surgery thinking it was his appendix, but Frank said it was worse than they thought. He added: "They said he would be in surgery for an hour, but two-and-a-half hours later we were sitting not knowing what was going on.
"They came out saying it was more serious and to hold tight they would do their best. We were absolutely distraught."
During a difficult time, Frank said a stranger's actions cheered them up and brought a smile to their face. Hospital porter Craig Jones was playing music through the hospital corridors before he got chatting to Frank and his wife Denise.
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Frank said: "I asked why he was playing music and he said he'd been doing it since Covid to cheer people up. He's doing it for the people and it can be someone's last song they heard. He's amazing, he reassured us and gave us a hug, but he blew us away.
"He checks your date of birth and goes back to find the music you'd have been interested in when you were young and plays it for you, he picks your mood up. He made us laugh and smile during a crucial time in our lives.
"We need more people like him. It's sentimental, we all love music and I wanted to make sure he gets some love for making us smile."
As Lee remains in Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside, for his recovery, Craig has even been going to visit him and his family. Frank said: "He's been amazing. The hospital have been amazing as well, the doctors and all the staff.
"Lee's bowel had burst, which is quite common I believe. It starts with lower belly pain, constipation pains and he started swelling. He said on the Sunday he felt some kind of rip and his temperature was through the roof."
