Kathy's Story

Born in the valleys in Wales, Kathy qualified as a surgical nurse and midwife with lots of experience in the medical field. She and her husband Chris have four children and three beautiful granddaughters who Kathy sees regularly and is actively involved in caring for.

In 2023, Kathy and Chris moved to Pembrokeshire to care for Chris’s elderly parents and start a holiday let business. They were looking forward to this new chapter of their lives.

One evening, after going to bed as usual, Chris found Kathy unconscious. Emergency services airlifted her to Cardiff hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered a brain hemorrhage. There were no warning signs. Kathy spent five months in hospital recovering from this life-changing event. During her hospitalisation, Chris found a house in Grove, closer to their family support network in Oxfordshire.

When Kathy was discharged, they moved to their new home, which needed significant adaptations. They converted their dining room into a bedroom as Kathy was too weak to manage stairs. For six months, two carers supported Kathy with daily tasks as she worked to regain her strength and independence.

During her recovery, Kathy began attending our Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC). The support she received helped Kathy to regain strength and mobility but also provided social connection and motivation.

“Seeing the friendly service users and staff gave Kathy a spring in her step to keep motivated,” Chris explains.

As a lifelong animal lover who shares her home with two Labradors, Kathy particularly values our trips to Radley farm, which have become an important part of her rehabilitation journey.

Kathy expressed the realisation of the importance of being around her family after her brain injury. Kathy’s husband Chris has said that with Kathy attending the ARC each week, it gives him peace of mind knowing that she is safe and well looked after.

Chris and Kathy are grateful to Oxford Head Injury Services for the help and support and look forward to every week.