Bethan Scott

July Award

In 2016, I was skiing in Canada with my then partner David. We were out one evening and Dave started having problems swallowing food. We made Dave an appointment with the GP for the day we returned from Canada and Dave was referred to the Wrexham Maelor where he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. Dave was told he would need chemotherapy within 3 weeks of that diagnosis. The idea being the chemotherapy would shrink the tumour and Dave would have an operation in June.
And that is what happened. Dave managed the chemo and had the operation in June the same year.
He recovered well and was due to return to work in September. Dave then started to develop headaches and was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Dave was rushed to Walton Hospital where he had an operation to remove the brain tumour in September.
Dave was then advised he would need to have 28 rounds of radiotherapy in the November of that year. We spent a lovely Christmas together and then in January 2017, almost a year to the date Dave was first diagnosed we were given the saddest news that Dave`s cancer had gone into the lining of his spine and tragically Dave was given a worst-case scenario of 3 weeks to live.
It was at this point I was introduced to @nightingaleHH by a lovely Doctor at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. She suggested that Dave would benefit from use of the hydrotherapy pool to assist with his pain management. Dave was super fit – he was a runner and a cycler, so to go from being so fit to then losing his mobility was simply tragic. Coming to Nightingale House and using the hydrotherapy pool helped Dave to become confident enough to start using the day care facilities. It didn't matter how poorly Dave felt, he always wanted to make sure he was ready to be collected and taken to Nightingale House.

Dave was such a sociable man; he was always interested in people, and they were interested in him. I now know that Dave also came to terms with his prognosis whilst attending one of the therapy sessions. He was at peace with what was happening to him -something that he bravely kept from me, as he didn't want to upset me.

We continued to nurse Dave at home, supported by the hospice and Plas Madoc District Nurses and then incredibly on the 22nd of July, Dave and I got married. We managed to get Dave to the register office in Wrexham and then we had our reception at home. We had the most wonderful day, surrounded by friends and family.

Sadly, just three weeks later Dave passed away at our home in Ruabon.

Dave spent time at an incredibly special place – Nightingale House Hospice, in the heart of Wrexham. A HUB for the community of Wrexham and a place where staff work tirelessly by focusing on the patient and the family, providing the best possible quality of life for whatever time remains, but they can only do this with our support.

I reflect often, and much of my reflection is the journey from after Dave passed away, until the present time. The day Dave passed away I had a decision to make – do I stand still or move forward. I always remember family and friends desperately wanting to stay with me after Dave had passed away – worried about how I would cope, but you find an inner strength from somewhere. It was not easy, but you find it and once you find it – you build on that strength, and you use it to keep moving forward.

The hospice supported Dave and I through an incredibly challenging time and I have made it my mission to fundraise for the hospice ever since.

Since Dave passed away with the help and support of my incredible family, friends, and local businesses we have raised over £126,000 for the hospice, £5,000 for CRUK, £2,000 for Hospice UK and £5,000 for Alzheimer’s research, which were all Dave`s chosen charities. Dave has a tribute fund at the hospice and all donations are allocated in his memory.

My fundraising started with the sale of Dave`s vespa, followed by his mountain and road bike with all proceeds given to the hospice.

I then decided to take on some challenges, including trekking The Great Wall of China, Cycling Vietnam to Cambodia and then last year I trekked to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail in Peru and successfully summited Kilimanjaro, all within 8 weeks of each other. Kilimanjaro has been my toughest challenge to date.

This year I am trekking the mountains of Croatia, cycling Milan to Venice, and trekking the Camino de Santiago as well has holding various fundraising events throughout the year.

I have also signed up to Cycle Cuba with the hospice in 2024.

Every year I organise a walk in Dave’s memory on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of his passing, 12th August. Over the years the number of people has increased, which I believe is testament to the love we shared for Dave and the support for the hospice.

I always say life can change in an instant. Some good must come out of the loss of an incredible man. I believe we met for a reason and now I can help a cause that helped Dave.

Bethan is currently raffling a @wrexhamafc v @nottscounty signed shirt, donated by @ashwaste @wrexham.com, with £8000 raised so far & two weeks to go, her target is to get to over £10,000, contact https://buytickets.at/nightingalehousehospice/912234 if you would like to buy a ticket, with the chance of winning this iconic shirt.