AN INSPIRATIONAL young Wirral man is urging others to not give up their dreams after overcoming illness to become an entertainer for Thomas Cook.

Ryan Hoey, 26, from Seacombe, always wanted to be an entertainer but when he first began suffering with crippling back pains four years ago, his life was turned upside down.

He told the Globe: "I was 22 and very active, I was always wanting to help everyone else and just thought that I was suffering some kind of growing pains in my spine.

"As weeks went on, the pain was getting worse so I went to my doctors to get advice and they gave me some medication.

"Unfortunately the medication wasn't working and I was suffering more and more pain every night so I went to the doctor again in tears.

"It got to the point that I had to call an ambulance to the house, they took me to Walton Hospital and it turned out a disc had collapsed.

"I had to have an operation on the spine, they were worried to do this as I was so young but I couldn't go through that pain anymore."

After undergoing the operation, life seemed as if it was on the up for Ryan but after five months he began feel pain again and this went on for another four years.

Ryan said: "By the third year I was ready to give up on my life, I didn't want to be here anymore.

"I didn't want to be going through this pain.

"For years I wanted to be a entertainer and I just thought I would never be able to do this."

Wirral Globe:

At 23, Ryan had a walking stick and even used a mobility scooter to get him from A to B.

"I had given up on everything and I was like I am done with my life going through all this day-in day-out and I was lying there saying there must be hope for me," says Ryan.

"In 2017, I went back in for a final operation. I came back from theatre and was lying in the bed at 3am. All I could remember was calling my mum and friends Michelle in tears. I couldn't feel my legs.

"I thought I'm never going to be able to walk again.

"The doctors rushed me back down to theatre and found there was a blood clot on my spine.

"They managed to fix the problem and I knew there must have been hope for me."

After this, Ryan was able to walk again and was offered his dream job at Thomas Cook but after the company folded, Ryan returned home.

He added: "After the operation, I even got to do my dream job as an entertainer in Cyprus and Magaluf working for Thomas Cook.

"You just don't know what's around the corner and I am now back at home working front of house at the Premier Inn.

"I love my job and I am forever grateful to Thomas Cook but I want others to know there is more to life and they should never give up.

"I just want to say to young people, please don't give up, there is always that chance to fight. There is hope."