A BED-BOUND dad-of-three living in ‘torture’ after suffering a fall has reached a milestone in his campaign for life-changing surgery.

Phil Clark along with his three children Owain, Steffan and Rhiannon all have Elhers Danlos syndrome – a genetic disorder that weakens the collagen in the body.

The disorder caused Mr Clark’s spine to become unstable and his brain to descend into his neck, leaving him in unbearable pain.

After being diagnosed, the family, who live near Ulverston, was told Mr Clark needed surgery that could not be performed in the UK due to him having EDS, and the family tracked down a neurosurgeon in Spain to take on the operation.

After a rallying call to the community, the family managed to raise a mammoth £42,000 and Mr Clark was able to undergo the life-changing surgery in 2018.

However, in January 2021, while out walking with his family, he suffered a fall and immediately knew he had damaged something in his neck and middle of his back.

READ MORE: Ulverston dad Phil Clark with Elhers Danlos Syndrome fundraises for life-changing surgery

16 months later, Mr Clark is still unable to walk and is in excruciating pain with reduced control over both legs and his right hand after re-tethering his spine in a number of places.

The family said the neurosurgeon in the UK knows what is wrong but is unable to help due to rules around what surgery can be performed within the NHS on people with EDS.

Mr Clark is hoping to undergo surgery in Spain again to release the tethered cord and ideally get rid of any painful symptoms, or reduce them to a level that is tolerable to where he can lead a fairly normal life.

Mr Clark has been offered to undergo the surgery in Barcelona on July 1 however, the family need around £50,000 to cover the cost of the operation as well as aftercare.

To help fund the costs, they launched a fundraising page which has helped raise more than £15,000 thanks to donations in person, directly to the surgeon and on the page.

Mr Clark said the response from the public had been ‘incredible’ after launching the appeal.

He said: “It’s incredible we raised that much in the past few weeks. We didn’t expect that at all.

“It wasn’t that long ago that we went to Barcelona and found out about the surgery I needed. We weren’t expecting to get this much this quick.

“People have been so generous. Most people don’t know me but something must resonate with them that they can see I need help and I am really grateful for that.

“We’re getting scarily close to the surgery date now. I was told in the last operation that future surgeries would be risky because they discovered a blood disorder, but I’m at the point in my life now where I’m spending the majority of time in bed and that needs to change.

READ MORE: Ulverston dad with rare condition that leaves him at risk of internal decapitation says 'big thank you' for life changing donation

“We have to do something. It’s exciting that the surgery is coming up and I can get back on my feet again and enjoy life with my family.”

The family is hopeful that they may receive some last-minute donations before the surgery date to guarantee the operation can go ahead.

Mr Clark said: “We’re hoping for some last-minute donations to help us cross the finish line.

“People have been so generous so far, we’re hoping we can get enough to ensure the surgery can go ahead.

“This would mean giving me my life back again

“I’ve really missed getting outdoors in the Lakes and doing lots of walking. It’s something I can’t wait to do again.”

If you would like to make a donation, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/philclarksurgery