A Bethpage man is defying the odds by taking part in the New York City Marathon.

James Delargy, 34, says he was born with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), an abnormal connection of veins and arteries in his brain.

Eight years ago, Delargy had a blood vessel rupture in his brain and says he nearly died.

"I went down and I started screaming for help," Delargy, an NYPD detective says. "Just repeatedly over and over again, 'help, help,' as loud as I possibly could. And I don't remember any of this."

He says doctors initially told him he might never fully recover, but he learned to walk again after years.

Delargy says he is running the marathon for himself but also for one doctor who told him he would be able to run again.

Delargy now even has his own family and his nearly 2-year-old son Kieran will be cheering him on during the marathon.

"It was the end of a story," he says. "But then there's an extra chapter."

The 34-year-old will be running with his father, retired FDNY Capt. Daniel Delargy.

This is the first time James Delargy will be running a marathon. It is his father's second marathon.