Latest news with #Jay'sBarberClub
ITV News
18-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
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.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fundraiser launched to support family of Belfast barber Jay Millar who is in a coma in ICU
A fundraiser has been launched to support the family of Belfast barber Jay Millar who is currently in intensive care after being put in an induced coma. The popular barber suffered a head injury after falling following a seizure at his home on April 20 and has since been admitted to hospital. Jay, who runs the busy Jay's Barber Club in North Belfast is well known throughout the city for supporting the vulnerable and those in need. A message on Jay's social media page from his friends and family said: "Since Jay took unwell on Sunday and was admitted to ICU, where he currently remains, many people have been asking about the possibility of a fundraiser to help support the family. So with some thought, we have decided to create a Go Fund Me page. Read more: Belfast barber Jay Millar in coma in ICU as family ask for prayers Read more: 'Never give up': NI barber shares moving story of growing up in care "Jay is well known to the community in Belfast and beyond for all of the work he has done. With the homeless, in hospitals, with those in care, children's homes and hospices. He is a man who has never stopped giving and has never asked for anything in return. "Now we ask for the community to give back, to help out his family in their hour of need. With two businesses and a family to support, Jay will have a severely reduced income whilst he is in hospital and in recovery, meanwhile his family will still have personal and business bills to cover. We hope that whatever is raised can go some way to relieving a bit of that worry from his family." The Gofundme page was launched on Friday, April 25, and raised nearly £2,000 within three hours. Following the news that he had been admitted to hospital, there was an outpouring of support on social media for Jay, with many people sending their thoughts and prayers to him and his family at this tough time. One person issued a message of support on the fundraising page saying: "Jay, you do so much for everyone else and deserve the same back, I will be praying for your recovery. Thank you for everything you've done/ continue to do for those in need , keep fighting." If you would like to donate to the fundraising appeal, you can do so via this link. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Popular barber in coma in ICU after 'incident' as family ask for prayers
A popular barber has been left fighting for his life in a "medically induced coma" following a tragic incident over the weekend. Jay Millar, who has been cutting hair for more than ten years and is the proud owner of Jay's Barber Club in Belfast, which he launched just as the pandemic hit in 2020, is now in intensive care. On Tuesday, April 22, the Facebook page for Jay's Barber Club broke the heart-wrenching news about his condition, urging followers to keep him in their thoughts. The update stated: "We are devastated to confirm that Jay was involved in an incident on Sunday morning. Jay had a seizure which resulted in a fall and head injury. He was rushed to intensive care where he has remained in a medically induced coma and is currently stable at these early stages." The message expressed gratitude for the support received after the incident became public through other sources and noted that it's still very early to provide more details, reports Belfast Live. The post also requested privacy for the family during this difficult period and reassured customers that the shop will continue to run as usual. "The family have so much to deal with right now so please let them handle this situation in their own way at what is a very distressing time," the message added. "Jays Barber Club will still operate as normal - please keep supporting the business, you can still book David and Aaron via their booksy account. You can still walk into the shop as normal. Barber courses still continue as normal with our normal group of teachers, nothing changes. We are still taking bookings for the next barber course. "We will still continue to post on social media as normal. Jay has a family he supports and it is up to us to help this business run smoothly in his absence. We are a team at Jays Barber Club and will continue to help the name thrive until Jay is back on his feet. Finally - but most importantly of all - please keep Jay in all of your prayers. He needs them now more than ever." In February, Jay shared his life's journey from growing up in care to becoming a successful businessman at an event celebrating Care Day: "I grew up in care, going through the care system with my brother Wayne who was knocked down and killed when he was just seven. I was like a bouncy ball. I was everywhere. "I joined the Army and learned to cut hair. Being able to make people feel good meant a lot to me. I bought my first shop in Bloomfield Avenue and now have the Academy and we are teaching 200 people a year. Teaching barbering is a life skill."
