A MOTHER of three says her husband is “defying all the odds” after surviving an almost deadly stroke.

Geoff Smith, 49, almost died in March after suffering a haemorrhagic stroke, which needed emergency surgery to remove half of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain.

Wife Jo, 48, said Geoff has made an incredible recovery and is now making great progress in his walking and speech.

The couple celebrated a “special” ninth wedding anniversary together last weekon May 22, which previously Jo had feared they might not seemay not come.

She said: “Our anniversary was special because we spent it together.

“Normally we’d both be at work and too tired to do anything after returning home. 

“Geoff taught me that you should love one another no matter what the day and that flowers and sentiments shouldn’t just be saved for Valentine’s Day or anniversaries. 

“Love and caring should be in abundance consistently within a relationship to make it successful. 

“That’s just how our relationship is. Caring and loving another is a feeling, not an action, and this has never changed in our 11 years together.”

In the middle of April, Jo set up an internet blog documenting Geoff’s recovery.

Over the past month, the page has gained 16,700 followers at the time of writing, and a GoFundMe page for Geoff has raised more than £3,000.

The money will go towards private physiotherapy sessions as well as other alternative therapies to help Geoff’s neurological needs.

Jo said that over the past month, Geoff’s recovery has gone “extremely well”.

She said: “He is medically stable apart from a recent cold, and the hospital are carrying out their own investigations to attempt to find the cause of Geoff’s stroke. 

“It’s very difficult for the therapy and medical team to provide any kind of prognosis for Geoff, as it is with any stroke survivor and I haven’t asked them for this reason. 

“All I can say is that I fully believe he is defying all the odds, particularly so early on.”

Jo posted a large collection of pictures on her blog, sharing memories of her life with Geoff.

She said she sometimes finds it “painful” to look back on how Geoff was before his stroke, adding: “It reminds me of how quickly that was snatched away. 

“Geoff worked hard to maintain his fitness level and body image and I know it’s really important to him, so it makes me feel sad when I compare the then and now.”

However she is positive about what is to come, saying: “I’ve always felt lucky since Geoff left critical care and I thank my lucky stars that not only do we have him with us, we have him exactly how he was but just with a few deficits right now. 

“But over time that will change.”

To follow Geoff’s recovery, search ‘Geoff’s Journey’ on Facebook.