Finnley's Story: From Diagnosis to Determination Meet Stacey and Finnley, a mother and son whose lives changed dramatically after Finnley became critically ill while studying and playing football in the United States. Just months into his football scholarship, he was diagnosed with Addison's disease following a life-threatening adrenal crisis. Since then, Finnley has been working towards returning to the game he loves, while Stacey has focused on raising awareness of Addison's disease and supporting the ADSHG through fundraising and advocacy. Their story highlights the realities of living with a lifelong condition, the importance of early diagnosis and the strength of family support. When Finnley left Warrington for America in August 2025, he was doing what so many young footballers dream of: taking a brave step towards the future he had worked so hard for. At just 18, he moved from Warrington, Cheshire to New York after being offered a football scholarship, leaving behind his family and girlfriend to chase the opportunity of a lifetime. Although frightened and anxious it was a dream he had always had. His first season proved exactly why he had taken that leap. Playing for FLCC, Finnley helped his team win the regional championship and finish third in the state, while earning individual honours as both an All-Region First Team Player and an All-Conference Team Player. He was building momentum, confidence and a future in the game he loves - until becoming unwell stopped him in his tracks. In December 2025, Finnley became critically ill. After days of doctor and urgent care visits in the US, he was rushed to hospital and spent five days in ICU after suffering an adrenal crisis - a life-threatening complication of Addison’s disease. His sodium and cortisol levels had dropped so low that doctors were astonished that he was still conscious, warning him that he was close to a seizure. Finnley's health decline in his words… Three or four weeks before the crisis, I started struggling to breathe. I thought it was just a chest infection as I was playing in -15 temperatures, so I carried on, taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to ease the symptoms. But over the next few weeks, things got worse. I was exhausted, my breathing became more difficult, my legs felt heavy, and my muscles and joints were sore. I could only train in short bursts and play around ten minutes in matches before my body just wouldn’t function. Looking back, I don’t know how I played and scored two goals at Nationals. I kept telling myself I was run down with physical fatigue from a tough season, but in the final week I declined quickly. I felt dizzy, had to sit down after walking short distances, lost my appetite, started being sick and was constantly thirsty. At my worst, just before I was admitted to hospital, I felt close to passing out and started seeing black spots and blurred vision. My teammates were brilliant. They helped me get to the doctors and urgent care when I could barely walk, and when they saw how quickly I was going downhill, they contacted my parents. My mum and dad spoke to my coaches and support network in America and pushed for me to be taken to hospital urgently. Once I was in hospital, doctors found my sodium was critically low and told my parents I needed ICU care so it could be raised slowly and safely to avoid brain damage. I was put under 24-hour watch. I had lost nearly a stone in weight, was hallucinating, slurring my words, and my legs were in constant spasm. I was exhausted! I was diagnosed with severe hyponatremia, Addison’s disease, rhinovirus. My notes stated I was in severe organ system failure. Over five days, my numbers slowly began to improve and after a visit to a specialist in Rochester and meetings with college, my parents brought me home to the UK. I’ve had to put my football career and life in America on hold since while I adjust to this new reality. From the Field to Hospital Appointments and Medication The impact has been life-changing. Finnley’s dream is still to return to the level of football he was playing in the States, but he now must balance that ambition with the demands of a serious lifelong condition. Addison’s disease brings challenges including chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and spasms and the constant need to manage stress on the body. For Finnley, that means listening carefully to what his body is telling him and taking additional steroids when needed during physical or emotional strain, known as 'Sick Day Rules' - from intense training sessions and match days as well as the psychological pressures and stresses that life presents. Moving overseas independently being one. "Despite everything I went through I returned to the pitch and gym in March, just three months after coming dangerously close to losing my life. Step by step, I began rebuilding my weight, strength and muscle mass, testing what my body will now let me do in its new state. I must manage my medication carefully to make sure I have enough cortisol for demanding physical activity, whether that means electrolytes or extra steroids. When I became unwell, I lost a lot of weight and muscle, which caused extreme soreness. I have slowly worked back into a consistent training plan with my team in America, which I now follow in the UK when I am not unwell or dealing with the fatigue. I also joined a team back home to rebuild my fitness, confidence and see how my body copes. Some days I can train intensely and feel fine, just like before, but the next day it can completely wipe me out and leave me needing sleep and rest. As an athlete, it is difficult not being able to monitor how much cortisol my body has used, so I must really listen to how I feel. I can have good weeks where I train hard every day and feel fine, but it changes from week to week. Advice on Exercise & Addison's Other challenges I have faced have involved getting additional medication from Drs due to my need in frequent updosing and them not understanding this necessity. Working out how much medicine to take and at what point, I rely a lot on my Mum for this. Remembering to always carry my medical bag, I have forgot it on a few occasions. In March, I was also diagnosed with coeliac disease, another autoimmune condition. Unfortunately, being 'glutened' can pose serious health risks because of my Addison’s. I am now learning to manage my diet alongside Addison's, athletic training, medication and the mental strength I need to keep driving forward”. A Mum’s Mission: Turning Fear and Heartache into Fundraising After such a traumatic experience, Finnley’s mum Stacey was determined to turn the family’s ordeal into something positive. On Friday, 15 May 2026, she hosted a fundraising event at Alford Sports & Social Club in Warrington, with the aim of raising £6,000 in aid of the ADSHG. The evening brought the community together with live entertainment from singers Jake Liken and T3, drag performer Kiki Inferno, International DJ Holy Jay and a memorable ‘Full Monty’ performance from five local lads, supported in rehearsals by Stacey, who is a dance teacher. The family raised an incredible £7,957 at the event, plus a further £1,060 through a raffle organised at Stacey’s dance school - bringing the total raised to an outstanding £9,017! Our fundraising page For Stacey, the mission is deeply personal. “I just want my boy to be safe forever,” she said. Her hope is to raise awareness of Addison’s disease while supporting medical research, development of monitoring equipment and improved understanding of the condition. Finnley’s sister and some family friends have since taken part in a cortisol saliva research project at Alder Hey in Liverpool, while Stacey has enquired about becoming a trustee of the charity. For Stacey, it is a way to turn fear into purpose as Finnley prepares to return to his football life in America - a step that is both brave and deeply emotional for the whole family. “It was hard enough when he left home last year and his health was fine,” Stacey said. The Next Goalpost For Finnley, the goal remains simple: to get back to doing what he loves. Just eight months after diagnosis, Finnley is working hard to rebuild his physical strength and return to the player he was before illness interrupted his journey. There are now new limitations to manage - medication, sudden drops in cortisol, fatigue and the fear that comes with living so far from home. But his bravery, resilience and determination is stronger than ever and his parents couldn’t be any prouder of him. Although returning to America feels frightening, Finnley is adamant on doing it - not to let Addison’s disease rule him, but to prove that he can live alongside it and stay in control. America, he is coming back fighting, he is an ‘Addison warrior’ after all! We ask Finnley our most asked "Addison's Admin" questions here at ADSHG! How do you remember to take your tablets? I take steroid tablets four times a day and use alarms and alerts on my phone to remind me. I also rely on my parents and girlfriend. I also take Fludrocortisone once a day. How do you carry your injection kit? I carry an emergency injection kit in a small bag that stays with me everywhere I go. Inside are additional tablets, electrolytes and salt pouches, all there to help keep me safe in case my body comes under sudden physical or mental stress. What type of medical alert identification do you have? I wear a medical wristband and keep key medical information on a tag which is attached to my medical bag so that, in an emergency, others can quickly see my condition and the medication I need to survive. I also carry a medical card in my wallet and a documentation folder with ADSHG information booklets for medical professionals, plus letters from my specialists explaining why I must always carry medication, sharps, and gluten-free food when attending events or travelling. All of this helps keep me safe. Finnley Atkinson 🎙️ Listen to Stacey's radio interview with MIX56 breakfast Show. đź“° Read Stacey's magazine article in the Warrington Guardian. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years - please join our community and support our cause! You'll receive the latest expert advice, guidance and ADSHG news, whilst being part of our inspiring and supportive community. Become a member today! Join the ADSHG Connect on social media! Follow us on X/Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Manage Cookie Preferences