The image of Stephen Smith's emaciated body is one that I - and many others - will never forget.
Sadly I often find myself writing about difficult subjects, about hardship and suffering - it comes with the territory of covering politics in an age of austerity.
But I have never published a picture quite as harrowing as that of Stephen's 6 stone frame, especially when it was accompanied by the news that he had been found fit for work.
Where the story started
I was first alerted to the images of 64-year-old Stephen and informed of how he was being treated by the DWP via a Facebook post by his friend and supporter Terry Craven in January.
I managed to get in touch with Terry who gave me more details about the rang of illnesses Stephen was suffering with (COPD, pneumonia, arthritis) and how he had been battling for two years to get the benefits he needed.
Terry explained that after spending Christmas in hospital, Stephen had been forced to get a pass to leave hospital so he could fight the DWP over the decision to strip him of his benefits - a battle he won.
Meeting
I was keen to meet Stephen and Terry introduced us at the CASA centre in Hope Street - a community venue that strives to help those who have nowhere to turn.
Stephen was frail when we met, although he had been able to put on a little weight since those shocking images were taken.
Speaking to him, it was clear he was exhausted from what he had been through - he just wanted to be treated fairly and with dignity.
He explained how he had worked throughout his life but now his range of debilitating illnesses meant he needed help from the government.
He couldn't believe he had been denied it for so long.
Taking up the case
When I met Stephen, he had recently won the tribunal - with Terry's help - which meant his ESA benefits would be restored, but that wasn't enough.
This was a seriously ill man who had been wrongly turned down for this vital support for two years - and this was where the ECHO was able to help.
Naturally we made a big noise with Stephen's story, splashing the harrowing images of him all over the front page and lambasting the DWP for finding him fit for work.
We contacted the Department and suggested that having been found to be wrong in the denial of such funds for so long - that Stephen should be paid back for the years that he had been denied.
Stephen's story quickly picked up national and international attention - his images published across a range of high profile newspapers and news broadcasts, the heat was growing on the DWP.
We also published two separate doctor's notes that had been sent to the DWP warning against a decision to find him fit for work - but ignored.
Soon I was contacted by the DWP who informed us that they would in fact be paying Stephen back a further £4,000 that should have been available to make his difficult life easier of the previous two years.
Too little, too late
Sadly, this money took a number of weeks to arrive - and came after we got the terrible news in April that Stephen had died.
There is no doubt that the struggles he had been through over the past two years had contributed to his failing health.
Perhaps the most tragic symbol of Stephen's plight and the cruel system it highlighted was that when the money he was owed was finally awarded to him, it could only be used for his funeral.
Lessons learned?
From the moment we published the images and story of Stephen Smith, we pushed the DWP for answers.
Answers about why he was treated this way and what would be learnt from what went wrong with his case.
For weeks we chased then Secretary of State Amber Rudd for a full response and called for an inquiry - but it was all falling on deaf ears.
I was very grateful for the support of former Birkenhead MP Frank Field, then chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, who gave our campaign a voice in Parliament and wrote directly to Ms Rudd.
She responded and said a full review of Stephen's case would be carried out - the results were as predictable as they were depressing.
While accepting that 'crucial safeguarding opportunities were missed', the review found that 'policy guidance was followed' in Stephen's case, meaning no one will be held accountable for his terrible treatment.
As frustrating as that result was - we are all immensely grateful to Stephen for his bravery and his dignity in highlighting the serious failures of the benefits system in this country and giving hope to others to take their fights forward.
