I was hit by a truck – then my wife noticed something about my beard

In December 2024, when I was 49, a seven-tonne van changed my life. 

I was walking across a pedestrian crossing when a vehicle hit me at 30mph.

It was around 3pm – just as I was leaving a pub I’d nipped into for a Christmas pint. 

The catastrophic impact knocked me unconscious straight away. 

I later learned that when an air ambulance arrived I was intubated – when a tube is inserted into your windpipe to keep your airway open – at the scene. 

l was then put in a medically induced coma and taken to the critical care unit at Preston Royal Hospital, sixty miles from my home. 

There it was confirmed that my lungs had collapsed, I needed a chest drain, I had severe head trauma, a brain bleed, extensive facial fractures and multiple broken bones. 

Doctors were preparing to declare me dead.

At 5pm, my wife was informed by the police about the accident – since I had only popped out for half an hour, and left my phone at home, my friends and family didn’t know about the accident.

I was at the hospital from December 20 until January 14, and for 12 of these days, I was in a coma and totally oblivious to everything. 

Even now, I have no real recollection of the accident.

When I woke up, I struggled to distinguish reality for a while and experienced a period of coma-related delusion. It felt like I was in a dream state – I struggled to perceive what had happened to me and how bad it was.

As I began getting visitors, people pointed out I didn’t look great – but it was my beard that was most notably different. 

My wife noticed my face had only a few millimetres of growth after almost a month in hospital, which confused both of us – I’d always had a thick beard.

A few days later a male nurse came to prepare me for facial reconstruction surgery five weeks after the accident and commented that at least I’d already shaved. I hadn’t shaved at all – but my face looked smooth as if it was.

Noticing my confusion, he suggested I get my testosterone checked, something I’d never considered. He explained that the impact to my head might have affected my pituitary gland, disrupting my hormones. 

He was right to point it out – and as I healed, the problems went far beyond facial hair. 

During my recovery from the accident, I noticed my libido had vanished. While I was healing, I had accepted that I wasn’t going to have a sex life for a while.

But, I did notice that I didn’t feel turned on or sexual in any way – sex simply never came to mind. 

I was open about this feeling with my wife, and she was very supportive, but it did marry up with the suggestion of low testosterone, so I spoke to my GP, who advised me to wait a few months to see if the symptoms settled.

Feeling desperate for answers, I began researching testosterone boosters on my own and tried various nutritional supplements such as vitamins and minerals, but nothing made a difference.

By March last year, sex wasn’t even a thought, and my mood had deteriorated so badly that I didn’t want to carry on. I felt overwhelmed and confused by what was happening to me – everything I had lived for before had disappeared. 

Even my existence felt pointless.

My recovery was slow and steady from the physical injuries, however, in September I was diagnosed with and treated for PTSD. 

When I went back to my GP, sharing that my low testosterone symptoms had not settled, he suggested I have a blood test – but warned treatment could take time. 

So, I lost patience and longing for help, I went online again and looked at some testosterone replacement treatment (TRT) providers for a blood test.

The more I searched, the more I kept coming across Voy, a provider that seemed to have genuine people raving about their service sharing that it was a simple process, with great support.

I ordered the test and sent off my sample in April 2025. The results came back four days later on the app, showing that my testosterone levels were very low. 

Normal testosterone levels are between 10 and 30 nmol/l, and my levels were 5.147 nmol/l. 

The app advised me to have a full blood test to move forward with treatment, and so I booked for a phlebotomist nurse to come to my house and take my test. I received the results four days later which revealed my hormone levels were even lower than suggested, and so I started taking TRT.

I self administer five small injections per week, three of which are Testosterone Cypionate and two are HCG to keep my fertility and testicular size.

Disillusioned with my attempts to get more treatment through the NHS, I continued with Voy, who guided me through the process. The support team were quick to respond to my questions, and the consultation with the doctor was informative, guiding me through everything.

Since TRT is a lifelong commitment for me, having proper support is crucial.

Lacking testosterone affects mood, strength, confidence, and your sense of identity. Within three months of treatment, I went from severe low moods and weight gain to losing six per cent body fat.

Within six months, I noticed differences. My confidence returned alongside my libido. The apathy that had swallowed me after the accident began to lift.

I feel like I am more present now, unlike before.

After the accident, I wanted to be an insignificant shadow in the corner of the world. Now, I live a different existence from 12 months ago. Life is simple; it’s been changed for good.

We lose too many men to mental health problems, as they feel too ashamed to talk to someone – something I struggled with. 

Given low testosterone is so closely tied to the way that a man feels, psychologically, I would advise men to get tested and to talk to your mates. That even if they do get results that say your testosterone levels are low, it doesn’t make them any less of a man.

Taking action is the right thing to do, and there is support out there.

For me, taking a test was the first step towards becoming a better version of myself.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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