Dream Wedding Comes True After Father of the Bride Learns to Walk Again

Dream Wedding Comes True After Father of the Bride Learns to Walk Again

A Staffordshire family has had their wedding dream come true after the bride’s father relearned to walk again, thanks to his persistence, dogged determination and the help of support workers and exercise specialists at his home, Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Francis Baylis has been living with Parkinson’s and suspected dementia for the past five years, meaning the 73-year-old is unsteady on his feet and requires assistance to aid movement in his everyday life, including the use of a wheelchair.

Upon receiving news of his middle daughter Lizzie’s engagement, the former sales manager made it his mission to take on the ceremonial tradition of escorting the bride down the aisle, unaided, enlisting Belong’s in-house exercise and rehabilitation service, and his carers to help.

With a hi-tech gym and exercise specialists qualified in working with older people, Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme works to create free personalised exercise programmes for all residential care residents, designed to promote independence and quality of life. For the father of the bride, the goal was to increase strength and alleviate slower movement, stiffness and rigidity commonly associated with Parkinson’s, whilst boosting confidence to achieve the feat.

With group workouts and one-to-one training in the village gym, progress was proving fruitful, especially thanks to virtual cycle visits to Cornwall and Ireland on specialist exercise bikes adapted for wheelchair users.

Meanwhile, carers encouraged him through daily walks to the wedding march tune of Here Comes the Bride, and in the background, made arrangements for the 160-mile round trip to the picturesque North Wales countryside wedding, ultimately attending to support the family.

Recalling her father’s big moment, Lizzie continues: “He absolutely smashed it! It had given him a sense of purpose, something to work towards, though Dad can really pull at your heartstrings to get out of doing things he knows he can do. The Belong team were amazing keeping his focus on track. They have a great relationship with him, being firm but fair and they put everything in place to make it happen.”

It was after a number of years being supported at home by a live-in caregiver and help from his three daughters that Francis made the decision to move into Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme. Since then, he has immersed himself in village life, making much use of its bistro and the integrated Belong Heritage Gallery, whilst enjoying ‘banter’ with staff, even cheekily making requests for bacon butties at 2am.

Lizzie finishes: “Initially, Dad had made a joke of it all – very much of his character. He then said he wouldn’t miss it for the world, and he was really determined. To see him rise to the challenge was very emotional; he loved being with his family and it was a special moment for all of us.”

Josephine Mollison, general manager at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, added: “We are thrilled for the Baylis family and Francis’s achievement. They had thought it wouldn’t have been an option, but our ethos is to make moments like this happen and it goes to show that with a support network of dedicated carers and exercise expertise, you can achieve your dreams. Congratulations to all the family!”

Pictures:

1 Francis with Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme's Fay Kendall (support worker) and Taylor Forster (exercise and rehabilitation specialist)

2 Francis with his daughters on Lizzie's big day