Two decades of specialist care from The Walton Centre inspires patient to fundraise with artwork – Pam’s story

Twenty years ago, Pamela Griffiths from Rossett near Wrexham, was waking up after celebrating finishing her exams, when she discovered pins and needles in her legs and a lack of feeling. Over the coming days, visits to her GP and A&E couldn’t explain the issues, until a referral to The Walton Centre was suggested. With further testing and initial suspicions suggesting it was a tumour, Pam’s clinicians later confirmed a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It cannot currently be cured, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of MS and help ease symptoms. This depends on the type of MS and the symptoms; relapse and remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive.

Pam said: “It was a shock when they told me, but also a little bit of a relief to get a definitive answer for the symptoms I was experiencing at the time. I remember two members of staff called Fiona and Helen held my hand afterwards. The numbness and fatigue had begun to massively impact my life, both personally and professionally. Relapses can be a huge disruption.

“The last one was about six years ago, which mean I lost the use of my left leg, and I was in so much pain. But thanks to the ongoing support from The Walton Centre, I was able to get back on my feet again after six months.”

Pam, now 51 and working as an animal care assistant, wants to stay as active as possible and keep working.

She continued: “Work have been incredible, and I do as much as I can despite my symptoms trying to slow me down. Since diagnosis, The Walton Centre has been incredibly supportive. I can call the nurse advice line when I’m worried about my condition, and they actively involve me in new treatments or trials.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Pam was furloughed. To keep busy, she took up painting. She said: “The pandemic was difficult, mainly because I lost my mum at the same time. I was determined to stay positive. I remember one day I saw a rerun episode of Bob Ross on TV, they must’ve put them on for people stuck in isolation. So, I bought a load of art supplies and started following his lessons.”

Before long, Pam was designing her own artwork, which friends encouraged her to make into cards they could use for different occasions.

Pam said: “It was at this point that I noticed The Walton Centre had its own charity and wondered if my new art hobby could be put to good use! I started painting winter and Christmas scenes and turning them into festive cards that I could sell to raise money to donate to the charity.”

Last year, as part of The Walton Centre Charity’s Christmas Campaign, Pam contributed over £175, meaning much needed support for the hospital’s home from home relatives’ accommodation.

Pam added: “I’ve had amazing support from The Walton Centre over the last 20 years. Through the tough times and the relapses, the team have been there to help guide me through it the best way possible. For that and more, I just had to give back in my own way, and I’m so pleased that my artwork can contribute to the hospital.”

The Walton Centre Charity is celebrating 10 years of having the home from home relatives’ accommodation this year, find out more and support the charity here: https://www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org/Appeal/home-from-home-10

 

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611