Help Gareth regain independence

On 25th April 2021, my 66 year old Dad suffered a severe stroke.

Up until this point he was fit and healthy. He had, that week, been celebrating his all clear from prostate cancer, and was making plans for his future and well-earned retirement.

He was running his own business teaching English over zoom, was a languages fanatic (spoke lots of languages fluently and was always learning a new one), was an avid hiker, loved the outdoors, cycling, playing guitar and singing and was training for the London marathon.

 

He previously served in the police in Interpol, Wales and London for over 30 years and worked in his local community in Bassaleg as a junior rugby coach.

 

Sadly on that Sunday, when he was found lying in his front garden, emergency services were called but no ambulance arrived . After almost a two hour wait, he was eventually pulled into the back seat of a car and taken the short distance to A&E.

On arrival he wasn’t thrombolised (a treatment which can reduce the impact of stroke) as a result of not getting to A&E in time. And he wasn’t able to receive a thrombectomy, a procedure that removes the clot and reduces the impact of stroke, because sadly, in Wales, the service wasn't available. (If he’d lived 30 mins down the motorway in Bristol, it’s unlikely I’d be writing this now).

He has lost all his written and verbal communication and can't use his right arm or walk unaided.

For someone who loved communication, languages and singing, we can't even describe the trauma he is currently experiencing. His business, hobbies and life as he knew it, is now over.

It’s well documented in the media that NHS Wales is notorious for letting stroke patients down. Sadly my Dad was one of those people.
 
That night we nearly lost Dad. He did pull through though. However, what he’s left with is devastating.

 

We are now working hard with him to try and rebuild his future and give him quality of life. He lives alone and now needs long-term care, but he is the most determined person I have ever met and works hard on his progress daily. While some outpatient rehab is available, it's patchy and no where near enough to get him back to a place where he can find peace of mind.

 

So i'm hoping to raise funds to support his ongoing rehabilitation and development over the coming months and years, to give him back independence and quality of life.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and your support.

*Any left over funds we don't use for Gareth's rehab will be donated to Newport Stroke Support Group

 

Lisa  x