Two months before his tragic death at the age of 35, Game of Thrones actor Michael Patrick revealed he had about a year to live.
Patrick, who was battling a neurological condition called motor neuron disease, wrote in his last Instagram post, shared on February 6, that he was informed by his neurologist that he had about a year to live.
The late star told his followers at the time that his doctors “couldn’t say for sure” how long he had left to live, adding: “There’s still hope that drug trials can buy us a little more time.”
Patrick also said he “didn’t want to risk a significant portion of my time in a hospital bed” and vowed he still had “a lot to live for and a lot to plan”.
Patrick’s post featured a photo of the Irish actor sitting in a wheelchair with a breathing tube in hospital, holding his godson Michael.
Patrick began his caption by saying that he was diagnosed with MND in February 2023.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, this neurological disorder destroys motor neurons that control skeletal muscle activity such as walking, breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
In a health update on February 6, Patrick explained that he spent a week in a hospital in Ireland with his wife Naomi Sheehan by his side. During that time, they spoke with doctors about the “risks and consequences” of undergoing a tracheostomy. Tracheostomy is defined as a surgical procedure that creates an opening into the trachea in the neck to aid in airway access and ventilation.
“In short, I am not going to proceed with a tracheostomy,” he wrote.
Patrick explained that doctors were told it would take six to 12 months to be discharged from hospital if he underwent the procedure due to a “shortage of staff”.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who has helped drive this, from senior social workers to politicians to hospital directors,” he continued. “Everyone has been working hard, but we don’t have enough staff.”
Patrick also thanked everyone who donated to his GoFundMe, which was set up to help with hospital costs, including the cost of a tracheostomy.
“I did not have a tracheostomy, but it is used to provide specialized care as you enter the final stages of life,” he shared in the post. “I am still overwhelmed by your generosity.”
The GoFundMe has raised more than 110,505 pounds (about $129,184) as of Wednesday.
Patrick’s wife confirmed in an Instagram post Wednesday that Patrick passed away “peacefully” while in hospice care in Ireland.
“Words cannot express how devastated we are,” she wrote, adding that her late husband “lived a life as full as a human being.”
Mr Sheehan also said: “We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us over the last few years.”
