Footballers have been sending their best wishes to a brave 21-year-old boy from Weymouth who is set to undergo a major transplant.

Bailey Johns was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Crohn’s disease in 2010. He has reached the end of any standard care, tried every medication known and has had numerous surgeries, but still suffers from chronic pain.

In August a scope found more disease in his small intestine. Only having 200cm left, surgery was no longer a wise option.

The decision was made to try a stem cell transplant, which has only been done to a handful of Crohn’s patients.

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Soon after the decision was made, Bailey received a video from Jamie Redknapp, the former Liverpool and England footballer.

He said: “I hope you’re ok mate and keeping your spirits up. I’ve heard you’ve been doing really well and everyone is super proud of you. Keep going, keep battling and hopefully I’ll see you soon.”

The messages kept coming and Bailey, a dedicated Newcastle United fan, soon received a message from Alan Shearer who said: “I just want to say how brave you’ve been, how tough and hard you are and I’m thinking of you. Big hugs, all the best.”

Bailey also received a video message from former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville.

Bailey said: “I couldn’t believe it. I got the videos when I was at the hospital having my day treatment and was like 'oh my god!' I was trying to keep it calm because I was on the ward but when I was on my own, I went crazy.

“I’m a huge Newcastle fan. I love watching them because it can really make my week when we win.

“The last few months I’ve barely left the house but these messages and the support I’ve received has made me realise that there is more to life than this.

“I’ve always thought that I’m a ghost of myself and who I could be because this is not who I thought I would be at 21 years old.

“I’ve missed so much of my life. All of my teenage years I tried to just get on with life as best I could but now I want to do more.

“I want to travel but I’ve got a lot of catching up to do so instead of a gap year I might have to do a gap 10 year.

Bailey’s mum, Clare Johns, said: “The transplant comes with risks but who am I to tell Bailey that he has to be so poorly for the rest of his life?

“It’s robbed his education, childhood, teenage years. This transplant isn’t a cure but it may help him become pain free for a while which will allow him to start living his life.”

A JustGiving page was set up by Clare, to raise money for accommodation and travel for the family as they shuttle between their home in Weymouth and the hospital in Oxford, where Bailey will be having the treatment. The target of £5,000 was smashed in just over a week.

The JustGiving page is available here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stemcelltransplant?utm_term=Nraw2y5J9