Belfast barber Jay's recovering after seizures left him close to 'death's door'
A Belfast barber is feeling lucky to be alive after suffering a brain injury and fighting for his life in intensive care.
Jason 'Jay' Millar went to buy a coffee on Easter Sunday and woke up in intensive care three weeks later. He had suffered seizures, fell and seriously injured his head, and required life-saving brain surgery.
This is the latest setback for the Jay's Barber Club owner, author and volunteer who has already experienced unimaginable tragedy in his lifetime. Jason (42) was orphaned and lost his brother Wayne when he was a child, and then found himself in the grip of drug addiction.
Since then the Belfast man has become a prominent social media personality locally, making the headlines for opening up about his recovery and faith journey. He has also become well known for charitable work including offering free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness and addiction.
His recent illness has left him shaken but grateful to be alive and recovering.
On April 20th, Jason's wife Orla was left in shock after getting a call to say he had been rushed to hospital while she was doing an Easter egg hunt for the children.
'It was awful the first few days… It was like hour by hour rather than day by day.'
UTV asked Orla if she thought Jason would survive.
'The first few days I kept asking that question because I just wanted someone to reassure me. But when you can't get that reassurance, it's really hard.'
Little did anyone know that in three weeks, Jason would regain consciousness.
'When Orla came up to me, she said, 'do you remember who you are?' I'm going, 'Why? Why is she talking to me like this?' I was just so oblivious to what happened.'
After several operations, he was discharged and has started a slow return to work, to the delight of those who know him or have been following his story on social media.
There have been thousands of comments left online, while he says well-wishers are regularly offering him hugs as they are so delighted to see him out and about once more.
He said: 'People are coming up to me going, 'can I give you a hug? I can't believe I'm hearing your voice'!'
Jason said that he has been 'near death's door' many times before, when drinking and taking drugs, and he even fell from a three storey building.
He described this experience as 'far worse in so many different aspects' but praised the diligent hospital staff for their decision-making, which he says saved him.
Jason, who has a strong Christian faith, has managed to find some silver linings from this ordeal.
He is grateful that he was able to get out of his vehicle before the seizures, avoiding danger to other road users. This is an issue close to his heart as his brother Wayne was knocked down and killed as a child.
He also believes that what happened is a sign he needs to slow down, something that does not come easily because of his ADHD.
'You work and work and work, but you just work yourself too hard. I'm 42, nearly 43. And what I really believe now is that I need to take it slow, because you can't work like that,' he said.
Thousands of pounds have been donated to a fundraising page since the incident, which Jason and Orla have decided to donate to two charities - the NI Children's Hospice and homelessness organisation Teen Challenge NI.
Not everyone has been so kind to Jason. It appears some messages left online have been suggesting he took ill because of his chaotic past.
'I'm really grateful that they felt the need to leave messages. I know where they're coming from because of the life I used to have.
'I pray for them and at the end of the day, I love them,' said Jason.
'If they want to come here, I'll cut their hair for free, because they know that I am a nice person.
'Everybody's got a past, but at the end of the day, I'm trying to make a difference in so many different ways. And the reason I've fallen and hurt myself is because I've just worked myself too hard.
'No matter what people say about me, I will still love them and help them.'
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