Betty and Elaine's story
Betty is 84 and lives in west Wales. Ten years ago she lost her beloved husband Ken to cancer.
"I coped reasonably well because I had a good son, who was close."
Two years ago Betty found herself faced with her worst nightmare when her son told her that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
"“Really, the end of my world seemed to have arrived. I thought, I can’t live without my son, my world is empty.”There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age - I missed it coming and going."
But life took a different course, she met Elaine a WRVS volunteer, who is part of a befriending service, providing company for older people when they need it most. Elaine sees Betty two or three times a week and is always available, helping her through good times and bad.
"I wouldn’t swap her for the word, really in my life there is nobody
to replace her. She lifts me completely, she really does. When the
phone rings and it’s her at the end of the line, it’s a great feeling.
You feel as if you’re wanted.
“I could be very lonely without her, that’s for sure, very lonely. She fills a big space.”
Watch Betty’s story to see how her life was transformed after she met Elaine.
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