* Dai Davies being put through his paces during a
physio session at Nightingale House with Leah Evans.
Former Wales, Everton and Wrexham goalkeeper Dai Davies, of Llangollen, has spoken about how physios at Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham got him walking again after 10 weeks of hospitalisation.
Dai, who has terminal pancreatic
cancer, had been a patient at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for almost two months
during the summer, where he was unable to see family loved-ones due to the
Covid-19 restrictions. In August he was transferred to Nightingale House.
The move meant Dai could be reunited
with his wife Judy, and his three children Gareth, Rhian and Bethan, whilst
receiving palliative care and rehabilitation, following his decision not to opt
for chemotherapy treatment.
Dai said: “Coincidentally, my
consultant Dr Grace Ting at the Royal Liverpool, knew about Nightingale House as
she’d done a placement here during the early part of her career. She decided it
would be the best move for me and my family and she was right. It was close to
home and their visiting policy meant such a difference as I was able to see my
wife and family.”
The hospice team facilitated Dai’s transportation from Liverpool to Wrexham and so began his palliative care journey to Nightingale House.
This wasn’t his first experience of hospice care
as Dai had been a Bowen Technique* mentor for lymphoedema nurse specialist
Eilish Lund back in the early noughties, so he was familiar with the
surroundings, although he admits it has transformed quite a bit since then.
He said: “I hadn’t been on my feet
for ten weeks as I’d been lying down in hospital looking out of the window at a
concrete wall. When I came to Nightingale House the brilliant physio team had
me up and about very quickly. I’m no stranger to gyms but their powers of
observation are excellent, as they will tell me when I’ve done enough for one
session.
“There is such an air of peace and
calm around the hospice and you can leave your worries behind you when you step
inside. It was wonderful that I was able to have the option to come here as the
choice gave me back control of my treatment.”
Dai and Judy, who have been together
for nearly 30 years, have been extremely impressed by the new modernisation
facilities at Nightingale House, that were completed during the summer lockdown.
Dai visits the hospice for weekly physio sessions and said he has been inspired
by the team caring for him.
Judy said: “Sometimes people hear the word
‘hospice’ and only assume that it is just a supportive place for someone to
leave this life however a hospice is so much more than that. We are both extremely
grateful that the care and rehabilitation that Dai has received in Nightingale
House has also enabled him to come back home so much sooner after such a long
stay in hospital.
“All the staff are angels and their care and kindness has been endless. On
Dai’s arrival someone had even put a small vase of fresh sweet peas from the
beautiful hospice garden on his bedside table and it is thoughtful little
touches such as this that can make such a difference to one’s overall
wellbeing.”
Dai said the entire experience had
been wonderful and added: “There is such team work here - it is as if everybody
working here is born to do the job; like their calling. Nightingale House is above
and beyond what we expected, with exceptional food, facilities and gardens.
“I would say to anyone who is reading of my experience in the hospice that if you find solace in this then please do reach out to the team in Nightingale House. There is pure unconditional love here that will take away any fear that you may have.”
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