Chris Wakelin came close to withdrawing from the Scottish Open after his one-year-old daughter Mia was rushed to hospital during the tournament.
The 33-year-old snooker player and his family had travelled to Scotland on the Sunday before the event, but by Tuesday lunchtime they found themselves seeking urgent medical care for their little girl.
"We got up here on the Sunday and by Tuesday lunchtime we were in hospital with her," Wakelin explained, per The Sun.
"She wasn't very well. Thankfully the nurses managed to get her back."
The health scare occurred on the same day Wakelin secured his opening-round victory against Oliver Lines on 16 December.
Despite the turmoil, Wakelin went on to claim a dominant victory in the Edinburgh final on Sunday evening, defeating Chang Bingyu 9-2 to collect the Stephen Hendry Trophy and £100,000 in prize money.
The Rugby-based potter's triumph was made all the more remarkable given he was also fighting off illness throughout the competition.
Chris Wakelin won the Scottish Open over the weekend
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"I also had pneumonia last week," Wakelin revealed. "I've got so many excuses. More excuses than when I lose."
His comprehensive win over the Chinese player capped an extraordinary week that had begun with his daughter requiring urgent treatment and continued with him battling through his own health problems to reach the final.
Wakelin spoke movingly about the dramatic turnaround his family experienced over the course of just five days.
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Five quirky facts about snooker | PA"To think that in the last five days, we have gone from nearly pulling out to being stood here now with the trophy," he said.
"I will never forget the moment I was able to celebrate with them both."
By the time he returned from his first-round match, his daughter and fiancee Lucy were fully recovered and back at their hotel.
Lucy provided crucial support ahead of the final, staying at a separate hotel on Saturday night to ensure Wakelin could rest properly before the biggest match of the tournament.
Wakelin's triumph has propelled him to 14th in the world rankings, with career earnings now standing at £529,200.
However, his rise into the elite bracket has come too late to secure a spot at next month's Masters at Alexandra Palace, as the Triple Crown cut-off had already passed.
Chris Wakelin has described his triumph at the Scottish Open as 'mind-blowing'
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"This is mind-blowing for me," he admitted.
"A couple of years ago, I couldn't see myself walking out in a big final and holding myself together."
The player reflected on what he described as an unusual campaign, having reached the World Championship quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.
"It is strange finding myself in the latter stages of tournaments. This season has been hard," he added.