Bargoed man hails carers looking after his wife with Multiple Sclerosis

Philip Robinson and wife Jane in their younger days

Sixty-four-year-old Philip Robinson lives in Bargoed with his wife, Jane, 59, who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

In recent years, carers have been coming to the couple’s house regularly to help Jane.

“The carers have been a lifeline to me,” Philip told Caerphilly Observer. “They’ve enabled me to hold a job down.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.

It’s a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild.

In many cases, it’s possible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS.

It’s most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s although it can develop at any age. It’s about two to three times more common in women than men.

MS is one of the most common causes of disability in younger adults.

Source: NHS

“I’ve felt so lonely at times. It’s great seeing the carers coming up the drive – it really lifts my spirits.

“I’d be drowning if it wasn’t for them. I’d feel so alone and helpless.

Philip Robinson with carers Sue Loxton, left, and Leanne Gardner, right

“They really raise your spirits and encourage you”.

The couple are visited by carers numerous times each day.

Philip, who used to work with Age UK, praised the carers and said: “It takes a special breed of person to do this job.”

One of Jane’s regular carers is Sue Loxton, who has been caring for her for around three years.

Philip said: “The way Sue is treating my Jane is wonderful. She reacts to Sue’s voice.”

As part of her job, Susan, who works for Abercare, cares for around nine or ten people each day. She has, on multiple occasions, saved someone’s life – including one time when she saved a woman, who was an amputee, from a house fire in Bargoed a few years back.

She also resuscitated a man she was caring for who she found unresponsive. Sue called an ambulance for him and waited with him until it arrived.

Philip said this “shows the calibre of people working as carers” but Sue insisted: “It’s my job, it’s what we do. I’d do it for someone on the street.

“A smile is worth a million dollars.”

Philip said: “To save someone’s life not just once, but four times, is something to be proud of. It’s remarkable.

“There’s not enough adjectives to describe the carers. They’re angels, they really are.”

Fundraising

Philip's 1954 GUC American pick-up truck was raffled to raise money for the MS Society — Philip’s 1954 GUC American pick-up truck was raffled to raise money for the MS Society

In December 2020, Philip, who identifies as an “old Teddy Boy“, sold his 1954 GUC American pick-up truck through a raffle to raise money for the MS Society.

He set up his own website for the raffle, selling tickets for £10 each.

There were entrants from across the UK and as far afield as France, USA, Mexico and Japan.

Explaining the global appeal to his raffle, Philip said he is a member of numerous rock music clubs, which have links to similar groups across the globe.

He managed to sell £11,000 worth of tickets, with £7,500 given to the competition winner and £3,500 going to the MS Society.

A donation to the MS Society can be made through its website.

Philip Robinson

Fundraising

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