A ‘MIRACLE’ patient given just a 10 per cent chance of survival has celebrated beating the odds by getting married on his 60th birthday.

Graham Stansfield suffered a disease so rare it affects only six to eight people, per million, per year.

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But after months of treatment, the Burnley brickie was able to tie the knot with the woman who had supported him throughout his harrowing ordeal.

Mr Stansfield was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder, known as TTP, which affects blood circulation, where little clots form in blood vessels throughout the body.

This can limit the flow of oxygen to vital organs, causing organ failure, brain damage and stroke. Failure to treat it can be devastating.

Thankfully, 16 months on, Mr Stansfield was well enough to marry Catherine Fletcher at Burnley Register Office.

The new Mrs Stansfield, 54, said: “It was a small service, with a few close friends and family.

“We had to put our honeymoon off for a few weeks as we had rather a lot of appointments at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. You could say our first honeymoon was in Liverpool.

“We didn’t want the wedding to be anything big, but if it wasn’t for the treatment Graham received, I don’t think we’d would both be here to celebrate at all.”

Mr Stansfield started to feel extremely tired and unwell after finishing work one evening.

After seeing his GP, he was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital, where consultants suspected he might have the disease, known as Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

He was transferred to Royal Liverpool University Hospital which has a dedicated TTP team.

Mrs Stansfield said: “Staff told me he had a 20 per cent chance of survival. Later, I found out they were trying to remain positive and his chances were closer to 10 per cent.

“He had two cardiac arrests during the first 48 hours of treatment. If he’d have had a third he probably wouldn’t have left the hospital alive.”

Consultant and TTP Specialist Centre lead Dr Tina Dutt said Mr Stansfield was a ‘miracle patient’.

She said: “When Graham arrived he was very distressed. He deteriorated very quickly and we had to inform his partner Catherine of how serious his condition was.

“There is very little awareness of TTP, but it is vital that the disorder is treated urgently.”

Mr Stansfield underwent plasma exchange daily during his time in hospital. This is a procedure that removes and then replaces plasma in the blood and greatly improves the chances of survival.

Dr Dutt said: “Despite treatment Graham’s condition failed to improve. It was not clear whether the TTP had affected Graham’s kidney, heart and brain function irreversibly, but Catherine and the specialist team remained positive.”

“Graham spent a significant time in intensive care and we used a drug treatment only a handful of people in the UK have received. This treatment meant Graham was finally allowed to leave the hospital.

“We see him as a miracle patient and I’m very proud of the TTP team’s work and commitment, as well as the couple’s resilience over the past 16 months.”

Mr Stansfield left hospital 12 weeks after he was first admitted. As a side effect of the disorder, he is now partially sighted and partially deaf. He also sees a stroke consultant following long-term neuropsychological effects.

The couple visit the Royal on a weekly basis and regularly find time to see the staff from the TTP centre.

Mrs Stansfield added: “Someone is always around if we need them, whether that’s a five minute chat between clinic appointments or a phone call if we’re ever worried about anything.

“I don’t see them as a group of people who care for Graham anymore as they’re more like friends now. We even received a card on our wedding day signed by the staff, which was so thoughtful.”