I am not sure if I have mentioned this before but every Thursday night Americo heads out to play football. Come rain or shine (and occasionally snow), in sickness or in health – Thursdays are religiously reserved for football.

Last week Americo stumbled through the door with a pronounced limp complaining loudly about the tackle he received. As far as I can tell two bruisers rumbled my dearest husband and, in the process, sandwiched his thigh between their two knees. Ever the sympathetic type my comment was along the lines of … ‘thought football was a no contact sport?’. (Aside from all the kissing and arse grabbing that is!). Nevertheless, we went to bed without too much drama and, in fact, a little bit of comedy as I watched Americo haul himself up the stairs moaning about the pain he was going to be in the next day. And they say exercise is good for you?

At about 4:45 in the morning I woke to Americo heaving and sighing and rolling about. Being the morning person that I most certainly am not, I ignored him as best I could until he requested I find some painkillers. Mumbling all kinds of nasty things about him over doing it blah, blah, blah, I made my way downstairs to grab the meds from my bag. With eyes firmly closed I clambered back to our room passed the pills to Americo and gratefully sank into bed. A few minutes later Americo was still fidgeting about when I suggested we turn off the light….

… from here my memories get a bit fuzzy, he rolled over and lay on his back - then he just went stiff as a board and started snorting and shaking. I thought he was choking on one of the pills. Logically I knew that he had taken the pills a few minutes before so that couldn’t be it, but equally, logic could not explain to me what the hell was going on. All I know is that in that moment I was terrified. Terrified that something might happen, terrified that I couldn’t help.. just hopelessly terrified for this beautiful man who I love beyond words.

I grabbed Americo and hauled him onto my lap, trying to manoeuvre him into a position where I could try and get him breathing regularly again, calling to him and telling him to relax. After a few seconds (which seemed like eternity) he relaxed in my arms and, although confused, was compis mentis enough to confirm emergency services would be required.

It is funny the things you remember, I remember saying “Do we need to call 911” and then correcting myself and saying “Not 911… 999. 911 won’t be any help!”. Americo had another two episodes after the first and I cannot tell you how petrified I was that he would stop breathing and not come back to me. Here was my big, wonderful, husband taken over by something that I could not see or control.

The emergency services were fantastic. They answered almost immediately, the lady stayed on the phone with me until the paramedics arrived and they (the paramedics) were with us within 15 minutes. Thank you.

I am happy to say that since the anomaly Americo has been fine, of course I have been hovering over him like a hen but so far so good.

At A&E they did a CT Scan and ECG, both of which came out clear. We have since been to the Neurologist who is referring Americo for an MIR and EEG(??). He thinks (and I really hope) that the episode was some type of extreme faint triggered by the pain Americo was experiencing. However they are not leaving any stone unturned before giving a full diagnosis.

A reminder to all of us who take our health and happiness for granted. Our time together is finite - be gentle with your partner, don't pass up that quick kiss or last touch!