A BRADFORD musician who thought his life was over when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at 24 is now a proud dad with a successful career.

Nigel Passey, 33, who lives in Idle, found himself homeless in his mid-20s and thought things couldn't get much worse. 

Then, he was diagnosed with MS.

Nigel was initially told he had a brain tumour, but it wasn’t until further checks were carried out that he was given the real diagnosis.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nigel Passey and his two daughters Nigel Passey and his two daughters (Image: UGC)

He said: “I was diagnosed after I collapsed at work one day and doctors were initially adamant it was a brain tumour.

“In my head when they said that I’d written myself off and thought I’d be dead in about a year.

“When it came back at MS it was a bit of a wakeup call, not straight away.

"I went on tour for three weeks the day after the diagnosis with my band, we went up and down the country and then I kind of came to terms with what it was that I had been diagnosed with.”

It was a long road to the positive outlook he has now.

Reflecting on the lowest point in his life, Nigel said the limbo before diagnosis was the most difficult. 

“Now I have been living with MS for over 10 years, I realise that the hardest time for me was probably during the 18 months of searching for a diagnosis," he said.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nigel Passey singing on tourNigel Passey singing on tour (Image: UGC)

“My advice for anyone who’s just been diagnosed is not to think of it as a death sentence, it’s not the be-all and end-all, you have to look after your health and make sure you rest.”

Nigel opened up about the loneliness he felt after his diagnosis.

“I only had a nurse and I felt like a number or another patient and it wasn’t until I went in for some treatment that I met other people who were getting the same treatment as me and it was really nice to speak with them," he said.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nigel Passey and his daughter at an eventNigel Passey and his daughter at an event (Image: UGC)

Musician Nigel, whose song about his MS journey reached number six on the iTunes chart in 2020, is planning a big fundraising project next year on the 10th anniversary of his diagnosis.

This is to support the MS Trust in its work to fund more specialist health professionals.

He said: “I hope this is a fun event for my friends living with MS – to enjoy a great night out and remind them that life is still here to be lived and enjoyed.” 

The MS Trust is calling for increased support services for people living with MS in the UK. For more information and support on living with MS visit www.mstrust.org.uk