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Dad's life wrecked by mystery illness
Stuart Greer12/ 7/2006
JIMMY Davis was once the envy of his friends, with his dazzling, infectious smile and successful sales job.
Then in 1991, he began suffering from terrible stomach pains. Fifteen years later those pains have taken him to the brink of death, left his family in tatters and baffled medical experts.
Today, Jimmy, 54, of Merlin Close, Bardsley, lies in Royal Oldham Hospital, a shadow of his former self, addicted to pain-killing drugs.
His wife Lesley, recalled: "People used to say Jimmy was a rugged, handsome rogue.
"He looked like Richard Gere. He never aged, was athletic and always liked to look his best. Now he is embarrassed to look at himself and feels like he has nothing to live for."
Jimmy, a former market trader, was initially diagnosed with an intestinal ulcer and his family expected a quick recovery.
Son Kevin, 30, said: "We were told he would have a small scar on his stomach, but he came out with a 21-inch scar across his belly. It looked like he'd been cut in half."
Weeks later Jimmy returned to hospital with an infection.
Lesley said: "He was in hospital for six weeks at a time. He couldn't eat or drink properly because the pain was so bad. At one point he was just under six stone and lost all his teeth."
Kevin said: "We were told he might have diabetes, the blood disease porphyria, even cancer, and none of it was ever proved. No-one could tell us what was wrong.
"He was sent home from hospitals in Manchester, Oldham and Ashton. He was given different medications and was always in so much pain. He suffered strokes and fits through taking the wrong medicines together.
"He doesn't look like my dad anymore. He is wheelchair-bound, frail, a shell of a man. I have said goodbye to him so many times."
While Kevin was starting his career in the Army and Jimmy forced to give up work, Lesley struggled as the family's sole breadwinner and Jimmy's carer.
In 1993 Jimmy's younger brother died of cancer, the family's takeaway business folded and medical experts still had no answers to his illness. Over the next five years Jimmy's mental health began to deteriorate and he became addicted to morphine for pain relief. Lesley said:"I tried to ween him off morphine, but it drove him to the edge. He was never a violent man,but he would bang on the walls out of frustration. Then when he was on the morphine he was like a zombie."
In 2002 Lesley, who already suffered from spinal arthritis, had a stroke, leaving her temporarily paralysed. She recalled: "That was my body telling me enough was enough. It was a horrible time. I was watching him get worse but couldn't do anything. I made myself get better. There was no choice."
Unable to cope with her husband's illness Jimmy was moved to a nursing home earlier this year.
Lesley added: "I just can't cope anymore. I've been with that man for 37 years. I'm not fit enough to care for my husband and it breaks my heart."
However the Davises are not beaten yet. With Kevin and his girlfriend expecting their first baby in October, there is renewed hope the family can recover from this tragic series of events.
They have even begun piecing together 15 years of medical records in a bid to solve this puzzle themselves.
"We want our Jimmy back," Lesley said.
"It's going to take a lot of time and effort but I won't give up on Jimmy. He's got a lot of life left in him and I want him back home with that smile I fell in love with."
A spokesman for Royal Oldham Hospital said: "Mr Davis' case is very complex, which is further complicated by his addiction to painkillers. The ward staff believe that they're doing the best they can to help Mr Davis, but we can absolutely understand his family's concerns."
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12/07/2006 at 22:02
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I havent seen any of my family in years and doing a google search came across the article.
I have to say I am shocked and very sad.
My own father died in 1992 of Tuberculosis.
I wanted to let my family now how well I have done. Since the gruelling childhood I had.
Some of my only fond memories of where when I lived with Jimmy, Lessley & Kevin in Manchester.
I am now solicitor. I got my LLB in Bristol, England 2 years ago. I moved back to where I was born Wexford a little overa year now where I am working as a conveyancing solicitor. I was married in March last year.
If this could be passed on to my uncle along with my best wishes please do. Tell him to keep going & tell them they are in my thoughts.
Rachel
23/08/2006 at 16:22