photo set
page of 2- 16
- 32
- 64
- 96
-
-
-
- .
DAD WITH INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOUR LEARNS HOW TO WALK EVERY DAY
05-06-2020
2020
Wacky People
DAD WITH INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOUR LEARNS HOW TO WALK EVERY DAY WITH PIX By Aliki Kraterou A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. Ian's rare tumour means that he often wakes up and has forgotten how to walk, talk or even eat. And his loving family pull him up to 'dance' out of his wheelchair, which helps trigger his memory, and talk him through how to eat his breakfast each day. They are now desperately fundraising to help make their home more adaptable for Ian as his condition worsens. Sandy said: “He has bad days and good days. “Each morning when he wakes up, he’s forgotten how to speak out loud and how to walk. “Every day we have to reteach him how to walk and talk and use what we call his ‘outdoor voice’ “He has days when he is very weak and we have to help him feed himself and he’s had good days when we are joking and laughing. “On his good days we are trying our best to make sure we gain back some of the ground that we lost, by doing physiotherapy with him, or speech therapy. “We have some unorthodox ways of getting him to talk, for example we shout out swear words. “We make a game out of it and make it fun, and oddly, it does often work and trigger his memory. “He lost his father 24 years ago and his mum when he was 13 but he still talks to me about them and asks me ‘what time are we leaving to go to mum and dad’s for dinner?’ “We have to break the news to him every week or so, that his mum and dad aren’t with us anymore and that’s heartbreaking. “He has days where he doesn’ t remember our children- he might ask Charlotte ‘who are you?’ and he thinks she is one of his best friend’s kids. “We don’t take it personally, sometimes he confuses Charlotte and me, we just tell him ‘oh come on silly, you know who I am.’ “We always find something to joke about, I am his third wife so in terms of Rambo movies, I call myself ‘The Revenge Wife’. “It’s sad and many times I think ‘Am I losing him?’- we have lost the physical part of Ian so I am wondering if I will cease to exist in his memories, would I just be a person who looks after him. “But then you get the bright side- two days ago he wanted to hold my hand and I asked him why- he said ‘because I love you and everything you do for me. “We get days he chuckles and we know he is still in there. “When we need to transfer him from his wheelchair, we just tell him ‘come on, let’s dance’- that’s the trigger for his feet to move. “ Ian, who was an active yachtsman and has sailed all over the world was originally diagnosed with a tumour behind the eye in 1996. It was surgically removed but the operation affected the optical nerve and Ian lost the use of his eye the following year. The tumour came back in 2012 and this time the surgery dissolved the bone in the orbit of the eye, which was when Ian started radiotherapy. In October 2017, he was referred to Oxford JR and a few months later his family was told to prepare for the worst. And as he started radiotherapy again his family was informed he suffered from double pulmonary embolisms and were warned to ‘brace themselves’ once again. In October 2019 Ian ended up in the hospital again after suffering small strokes. However the doctors were able to shrink the tumour from the size of a clenched fist to the size of the little finger. Right before the lockdown, at the end of March, Ian suffered a series of strokes and the tumour started to grow again. The family has ruled out chemotherapy due to the high risk during lockdown and are waiting to have another scan in September to decide the best course of action. Sandy added: “Ian was starting to have headaches and nosebleeds and our dog would sit on his knee and push his face into the side of Ian’s face. “His surgeon thought there was nothing wrong but after a scan we found there was a white shadow on ⅓ of Ian’s scull. “They told us at Christmas the tumour was inoperable and there was nothing they could do- the surgery would basically kill him because of meningitis. “It was pretty awful, it was my daughter’s 16th birthday. “They decided to do radiotherapy to buy him a few more months. “Before his radiotherapy started he fell, hit his head on the wall causing him a brain haemorrhage. “My daughter kept him alive, she is a first aider, she is absolutely awesome, when the ambulance came in, she had his head cradled between her knees and gave all the details they needed. “I was told if he lasted through the night, it’d be five days of palliative care before we lost him but we pulled through that. "The stuff at the JR has been exceptional and I couldn't thank them enough. “He is a cat with 9 lives, every time we are getting prepared to lose him, he fights back. “We were told he wouldn’t leave the hospital and a week later we took him home for Christmas. “Best Christmas gift anybody could ever give us. “I remember the day we got the diagnosis, holding his hand in the car on the way home and saying ‘Thank God it’s not dementia, we can cope with this. “And here I am having to teach him to walk again, having to remind him to drink, to think before he drinks so he doesn’t choke. “It’s a slow deterioration so you don’t realise the extent of what you are dealing with. “I could hand him over to medical care or I could do a far better job looking after him and keeping him engaged at home, where he’s got my attention 24/7. “I don’t want to be a strain on social services, I am perfectly capable of looking after him and I want to continue to do it- NHS is being massively over stretched at the moment so we took the decision to look after him ourselves. “We look on the bright side, we are positive, we do our best and get on with it.” Sandy had to sell her catering company to become a full-time carer so the family depends solely on Ian’s pension and a carer’s allowance of £60 per week. https://www.gofundme.com/f/aj63z-helpsandy ENDS
id16300569918714
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_002_3374512.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918713
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_003_3374513.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant and his wife Sandy.) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918715
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_001_3374511.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918716
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_006_3374516.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant.) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918717
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_004_3374514.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant.) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918718
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_005_3374515.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918719
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_009_3374519.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918720
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_007_3374517.jpg
place
credit
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918721
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_008_3374518.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian's brain scan.) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918722
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_011_3374521.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant with his daughter Charlotte ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918723
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_012_3374522.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte and his wife Sandy. ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918724
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_010_3374520.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED an Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte and his wife Sandy. ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918725
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_014_3374524.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918726
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_015_3374525.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED an Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918727
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_013_3374523.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED Ian Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
id16300569918728
supplier accountcaters
file nameCATERS_WIFE_TEACHES_HUSBAND_016_3374526.jpg
place
creditCaters News Agency
captionPIC BY CATERS NEWS (PICTURED an Bullivant, his son Oscar and daughter Charlotte ) A dad who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, learns how to walk and talk every day, with the help of his family. Ian Bullivant, 63, from Aylesbury, Bucks, an avid yachtsman, was diagnosed with the tumour three years ago - but it has now progressed to a stage where he has to relearn how to talk and walk every morning. His doting wife, Sandy, 54, has told how she and the couple's two children, Charlotte, 18, and Oscar, 16, now 'dance' with their father every morning to remind him how to walk - even though he sometimes doesn't recognise them. SEE CATERS COPY.
