It is a most heartbreaking tale.
A Salford University graduate battled through his degree even having to teach himself to read and write again following life-threatening brain surgery.
Yet now, instead of writing job applications, the proud graduate is writing his bucket list – as the cancerous brain tumour has returned… and doctors say it will kill him.
In 2009 doctors discovered that James McCarthy, 31, from Trafford, had been living with a brain tumour the size of a fist, possibly for several years, after he suffered a fit at the wheel causing him to lose control of his car.
James began an astounding road of recovery, learning how to read, write and walk again, before beginning six weeks of radiotherapy, all the while attending kickboxing classes once a week.
James’ brother, Daniel McCarty, 29, said the news was heartbreaking for the entire family.
“It was a horrible time for everyone, because we thought he might not make it,” Daniel said “After he had the surgery he was in a bad way for a couple of months.
“He couldn’t walk or talk. He had to teach himself to read and write again. Then he was attending kickboxing once a week while he was doing radiotherapy.
“I’m just amazed by his determination. He’s just very stubbornly determined. He’s my brother and he annoys me sometimes, but I’ve got so much respect for him.”
DEVASTATED: The return of James’ tumour has been a huge blow
Several months of recovery later, James decided to enrol on a business management degree, despite doctors warning him against it.
Daniel added: “So with three quarters of a brain he decided to book himself in at Salford University, it’s pretty amazing.”
James graduated in 2013 with a 2-1, something he says was the proudest moment of his life.
Last September, James began a Masters degree at the University of Manchester.
Then in June this year the bombshell landed – the tumour had returned.
A routine follow-up scan revealed a new tumour, but doctors delivered a crushing blow by revealing that this time it was terminal.
Daniel said: “It was gutting. We were planning for him to be my best man, and that was the thing that upset me the most. Everybody was just totally devastated.”
James said he took the news much better, after going through the ordeal the first time round.
Doctors have given James a short life expectancy, though he wishes to keep the details of this private.
“Once you’ve had cancer, you always know it’s going to come back,” he told MM.
“The doctors at Christie’s always thought it was going to come back, it’s just come back a lot earlier than they expected.”
PROUD: Graduating against the odds was the proudest moment of James’ life
He was forced to put his Masters degree on hold while he began further treatment, something which James says has hurt him more than anything.
“I was about to set up my own marketing design website up, so it feels like just as I’ve got there it’s been snatched away from me,” he told MM.
“That’s the most devastating thing really, that I’ve done all that hard work and had no money for about five years being a student.
“And if I have another bit of my brain removed my learning difficulties will be even worse.”
After being told it is unlikely he will make a full recovery from the tumour, James’ friends and family set about raising money to help fund his bucket list before he passes away.
James and Daniel say they were blown away by the response from the local community following the news.
“We starting getting floods and floods of messages,” Daniel said.
“This one guy who we hadn’t spoken to in years got in touch and donated £500. Loads of others got in touch. You just don’t realise how many we’ve got.
“We’ve had strangers getting in touch from Red Issue donating two and three hundred quid.
UNITED: James says he has been blown away by the support he has received
“There’s so much bad stuff going on in the world, you hear so many stories about Gaza and planes getting shot down, it just makes you realise how good Mancunians are.
“They’re just really good, charitable people.”
Through various donations and fundraising activities, the James McCarthy foundation has raised around £7,000.
The latest fund raising event saw Daniel and a number of friends walk 84 miles in 80 hours from Carlisle to Newcastle along Hadrian’s Wall last week.
“I tell you what that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Daniel told MM. “Half marathon day one, marathon day two, marathon day three and half marathon day four.
“We were carrying rucksacks through thunderstorms. My feet were batterd with blisters. We thought of James and everything he’s been through and that carried us through to the end.”
James told MM: “It’s been a bit overwhelming really. I’ve just been blown away by the response, and the way everyone has got behind me. It’s unbelievable.
“I’m even getting girls I’ve not spoken to in ten–fifteen years message me on Facebook. It cut me up a little bit.”
Some of things high up on James’ bucket list include a trip to Vietnam and Thailand.
He also wants to DJ in Ibiza and Pangea and even hopes to have the pleasure of meeting Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
“If I get through half of the things on that list I’ve done more than most people do in a 100 lifetimes,” he said.
One of the most important things on James’ bucket list would be to meet Sir Alex Ferguson, and his heroes from the iconic class of ’92, as well as United legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
RED FOR LIFE: James has followed his beloved United around the world
“It would make me cry,” James told MM. “The two happiest moments of my life was finishing my degree, and United winning the Champions League in Moscow, where I was there, and meeting Fergie would be the third happiest moment of my life.
“If I could meet the class of ’92 and Fergie, it would just be incredible. I’ve been all over the world watching United, and it would just mean everything to me if I could.
“I can’t put into words how much it would mean to meet them.”
Despite the tragic position he now finds himself in, James still tries to enjoy what little time he has left with a joke and a smile.
“I try and keep a positive attitude. I have bad days where I think I can’t go on, but I’ve just got to keep on going,” he said.
“I said I want to meet Emma Watson, but I don’t want her to get her hopes up. I’m in quite high demand in Manchester at the moment.
“You’ve got though show a little bit of sense of humour haven’t you?”
GRUELLING: Daniel and the group battled through 84 miles in just 80 hours
James says he has accepted his fate, and has decided to enjoy life while he still can.
And he hopes that when he does pass away, his story can inspire others in similarly heartbreaking scenarios.
He told MM: “I’d just like to tell everyone, that just because somebody says you can’t do a degree because you’ve got a disability, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it, because I did it, and they told me to forget doing it.
“People say you can’t do something but you do whatever you want.”
To donate towards James’ bucket list, click here. Alternatively, you can donate through the James McCarthy Foundation.
