Today, we introduce you to David and Jo, two people who are proof that being learning disabled does not have to be a barrier to achieving amazing things, especially with powerful, care and support on your side.
David lived a happy life with his sisters Alison and Melanie and their loving parents Joyce and Fred. They were a tight knit family, with David at its core. And there was no stopping him from achieving remarkable goals.
As a teenager, he went off to a residential college with his best friend, and relished in his independence and learning new skills. Meanwhile, his parents were planning his next steps.
Finally, after 10 years on the waiting list, David received an invitation to join Hft in Sheffield, and here, he continued to flourish. In 1992, his family and friends watched David win a gold medal at the 100 metres sprint at the Special Olympics in Reading. An incredibly proud day for everyone.
When Jo joined Hft as a support worker a few years later, she and David instantly formed a tight bond.
“I absolutely adored David. We just clicked. We had a similar sense of humour and he loved my sarcasm. He was the cheekiest man. Endearing, affectionate and he knew what he wanted!”
Sadly, during the first lockdown in March 2020, David contracted COVID-19.
With a ban on all visitors into hospitals, national restrictions on travelling during lock-down and his sisters living in Cornwall and Surrey, David faced the very real prospect of dying alone.
A doctor treating David confirmed that, should his life be deemed to be coming to an end, one person would be allowed to sit with him. He advised that living where the family did there was every chance that, if the call came, they would not be able to get to the hospital in time.
When Jo heard about this, she instantly volunteered to stand in for them, determined David would not die without someone from his ‘family’ with him.
The call came the following evening, and Jo sat holding David’s hand during the last night of his life.
On the morning of 2nd April 2020, David peacefully slipped away.
Thanks to Jo, David spent his final hours comfortably and with the reassurance of a loving voice he knew so well. She also enabled David’s sisters to share a priceless moment on the phone that they can treasure forever – ensuring that they could share a final conversation with him, filled with laughter, tears, and warmth.
Jo’s devotion to comforting David exemplifies the dedication and compassion that define Hft’s mission – to give learning disabled people the best life possible.
It is just one of many powerful examples of how people working throughout the care sector go above and beyond to make a difference. They are incredible.
Despite the challenges of lockdown, and the sadness of David’s death, Jo spoke proudly of the work of all social care workers.
“I know any one of my team would have helped David and any of our residents. It was an incredibly stressful time for everyone – but up and down the country, social care workers went above and beyond for the people they support.
These past few years have been the most difficult of the 22 years that I’ve worked at Hft. We have been faced with many challenges. Sadly, increasing fuel and food prices, amid other rising costs, haven’t translated into improved social care funding from central government. As a charity, we have carried the burden of bridging this gap.
Our services are vital to ensuring everyone we support is able to live happily, healthily and with dignity this winter and beyond.”
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