Stories from Ty Olwen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUCH AN INSPIRATION

How can I tell a story about my Mam, Lynn Hopkins ? Cancer took her away from me, but what was her lesson? Being positive, counting her blessings and being grateful for all that she had, that’s her story. What a woman she was! Her motto was, “no such word as can’t” She was living testament to that motto gaining an English Degree at 70, and publishing a poetry book for us to treasure about Oystermouth Cemetery. Even there she found the positives. Her book was called, Creatures of a Dead Community, and as the title portray’s, she concentrated on the wildlife she found there.

My mother endured her illness with great dignity and grace. When she arrived at Ty Olwen she was grateful of the beautiful floral duvet cover, the garden and squirrels to keep her mind less troubled. I was grateful for being allowed to hold her hand more or less continuously for the last few weeks of her life in the lead up to Christmas last year. I was able to promise her that I would not leave her alone thanks to Ty Olwen. I kept telling her we would do it together and thanks to all the team, I was able to keep that promise. In that time she bought Christmas cards in TO’s shop and wrote them out to her friends and family, selfless to extend kindness regardless of her fate. She never reached that Christmas.

She had asked me if I would take her to walk up Pen Y Fan and that walk was planned for this summer. She never made that walk. So on her birthday weekend this year my friends and I did that walk for her. We were so glad that Grant was able to join us. We would like to thank everyone who has donated or sponsored us. It is so important to support our local Ty Olwen to allow families to stay together in their last days together. Thank you to the children who walked with us and got up at 4.45 am in order to achieve their goal. In every sadness you will find kindness, in every negative there is a positive, in every hardship there is an opportunity to be grateful.

My mother would have wanted to thank Ty Olwen and Morriston Hospital for all that they did for her. She cannot do that. I am her channel to do that and this is how I have found my voice to do that. Thank you so much.

I am grateful to have had such a courageous Mam

Rhian

Welcome to our newest staff member at Ty Olwen. Dawn Lewis joins us from the chemotherapy team at Singleton Hospital. This is not her first time at Ty Olwen as she did part of her training with us some six years ago and always wanted to return. Welcome!

Congratulations to Karren Roberts on her promotion to Ward Sister. Karren has been a most ardent supporter and fundraiser for Ty Olwen for many years. It was a pleasure to see her at a recent Ty Olwen Trust meeting.

Wishing Rachel Tressider all the best as she leaves Ty Olwen to join the hospital team. We know she will be a great asset to them and they will receive the benefit of the knowledge gained by her at Ty Olwen.

 

 

 

 

 

Sian Harrop-Griffiths at Ty Olwen for Volunteers Week

Had a great time doing a bit of volunteering today at Ty Olwen with wonderful volunteers Angela, Lyn and Trish

 

Pupil Nurse Toni with Staff Nurses Coral and Maria admiring the new quilts and covers on trial at Ty Olwen

Staff Nurse Karren and Health Care Worker Matthew showing one of the beds with the new quilt and covers on trial at Ty Olwen

PROUD DAY FOR THE TY OLWEN TEAM

Congratulations to the Ty Olwen Team for their award at last night’s 2018 South Wales Evening Post Community Awards, receiving the Editors choice for dedication beyond the call of duty. Staff Nurses Coral and Karren with Sister Lisa show off the award.

 

CHEESECAKE FOR CHRISTMAS

A big Thank you to Marie Crescis of Crescis Cheesecakes of Gwaun Cae Gurwen for Donating a Cheesecake to the Staff at Ty Olwen who are working over the Christmas Period .Accepting this is staff member Matthew Golding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLYDACH ANGELS

 

 

 

 

 

You too can spread some Christmas love. Patterns available from Staff Nurse Karren and in the foyer in Ty Olwen.

 

 

 

 

JO WILLIAMS AND HER GIRLS

It was great to meet one of our patients this week who was in Ty Olwen for a few nights for some treatment, and to meet her lovely ‘girls’ – daughters Darcie and Maddi, niece Alex and one of there friends Atlanta. Three of the girls had run the Swansea 10K (although Maddi looked after Mum and her wheelchair pushing her around to watch and support them) and raised a staggering £1600. “Having seen first hand the amazing care and support they offer to their patients, we really wanted to give something back to this place”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOGS AND THERAPY FOR PATIENTS

 “a patient’s dog came by to visit them today to give a hug, the dog stopped to give all the staff a hello too”