The wife of the Irish Liverpool fan who suffered serious brain injuries almost a year ago has said her husband is a fighter and continues to make progress.
Martina Cox was speaking on RTÉ's Ray D'Arcy Show ahead of a fundraiser match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this Friday night between Republic of Ireland and Liverpool selections.
Sean Cox, who continues to receive treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, is to attend the game.
Mrs Cox said it will be just the third time that her husband leaves the NRH since moving there from Beaumont Hospital.
The 53-year-old father-of-three, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, suffered the injuries in an attack by Roma fans ahead of a Champion's League semi-final match at Anfield on 24 April 2018.
Mrs Cox said the year since the attack has been a whirlwind for the family.
"It's hard to believe everything changed in a matter of 17 seconds," she said. "Sean's life was completely changed, our lives were changed as well".
She said her husband is making "slow progress" in Dún Laoghaire, but the family will be looking to find him another rehabilitation facility in the UK when his treatment in Ireland ends in June.
"Sean could do with being there another year," she said, adding that "unfortunately you only get a certain amount of time".
She said the family have looked to the UK as he will receive a similar amount of care while family members will still be able to visit him.
Mr Cox will receive treatment for three to four months, depending on the programme, she said.
She added that she will move to Britain full-time for the duration of this treatment, while the couple's three children and other family members and friends will be over and back to visit.
While he has made progress, Mrs Cox said her husband is having difficulties.
"His speech is slow and he is finding it difficult. He can't get the words out - things like singing, that comes from a different part of the brain. If you sing to him he sings along with it but general words are difficult".
Despite this, she remains positive.
"Even to where he has got today, he has got there because he's a fighter. He's very determined, any challenge that has come his way he has done it".
Mrs Cox said the match at the Aviva Stadium between teams managed by Kenny Daglish and Mick McCarthy is a "big milestone" as Sean has only been home to the family's house in Co Meath twice for a couple of hours each time.
"Sean takes things in his stride," she said. "He'll have familiar people by his side, so he'll be OK".
"It's something we probably didn't think six or seven months ago that this would be possible so it's great to be able to get him out to be able to see his beloved Liverpool team play in his name".
She added the most important thing to know is that her husband has to get the proper rehab.
