SINGER Malachi Cush has spoke about his joy of returning to the stage as he awaits further surgery following a freak accident.
The Co Tyrone man is to undergo treatment on his right leg in January after being left lame from injuries suffered when he was hit by a a runaway car in Dungannon in June.
The 38-year-old, whose leg is still in a brace, has been told it could be next Christmas before he will regain the full use of his limb.
"I'm on a journey and I know I will get through it," he said.
The Donaghmore man suffered the injury in the accident outside a hardware shop on Scotch Street. He was also left with cuts and lacerations and had teeth knocked out.
He and a shopkeeper, who was also badly injured, were struck by the runaway car as they loaded a strimmer into the boot of his car.
Now six months after the crash, Mr Cush is due back on stage alongside singer and close friend Karl McGuckin.
"I had the opportunity to do something, to do these Christmas shows and get back on stage," he said.
"I was in the midst of recording an album when the crash happened, that's still all in my head. I'm taking it one step at a time.
"When this opportunity came along, it was the chance to do something and take my mind off the surgery in January too."
The singer, who first came to prominence on BBC talent show Fame Academy in 2002, said he is still dealing with the lasting effects of the crash.
"I've had a lot of time to think about it and am still living with the consequences of what happened," he said.
"I've still got a leg brace on and am going to weekly appointments at the Royal.
"I'm undergoing constant rehab and physio and will be having reconstructive surgery in January called anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, which will involve using your hamstrings from one leg to act as the new ligament.
"But I know I need it so I can settle myself about it."
Mr Cush said it had been a difficult few months since the freak accident.
"You're worried in the initial days and weeks after the crash," he said.
"I was opened up under the chin, I had to get 14 stitches, I'd a couple of teeth knocked down and I had abrasions and burns on my back - a few nasty injuries with the ligaments in my right leg.
"Following my surgery, I've been told it will be next Christmas before my rehab is finished.
"But to know that I have a time-scale to work to is good, yes I'm lame in the right leg, but it's a relatively short period of time that I will be like this.
"At the end of the day, there's an end point.
"When you are in and out of hospital, you get a sense of how bad some people have it.
"I'm on a journey and I know I will get through it."
He praised his wife Claire for her support throughout, joking that "our marriage vows have definitely been tested".
"Claire has been an absolute angel and carried me through the last few months," he said.
"As anyone will know who has been through something similar, you do have your dark days, but with the support of Claire and my family, I'm getting through it."
Mr Cush said he was delighted to be part of 'The Gift of Christmas' shows.
"It's a celebration of Christmas music, we will be performing Christmas carols and hymns, from old material to new," he said.
"There's a number of venues, from Clonard, St Therese's Church in Banbridge, St Mary's in Pomeroy and St Patrick's Dungannon.
"I maybe wouldn't have the stamina for a full show on my own, which is why it's fantastic to be doing the shows with Karl.
"Music can support me through this, it can lift you and stir the emotions, it's definitely been a good distraction."
