Nurse recognised for her hard work and resilience
A“HERO” children’s nurse, who continued working while she was terminally ill, died from cancer – just weeks after her brother suddenly died from internal bleeding.
Mum of one Susan Davies, from Hengoed, worked as a nurse at the University Hospital of Wales in Heath, Cardiff, before going into nursing in schools in the Rhymney Valley area.
But five years ago Susan was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, which is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma with about 600 people diagnosed with the disease every year.
Determined to carry on with her life she went back to work as a nurse and was more concerned about her patients’ health than her own.
But two years ago, during a routine scan, she was told the cancer had spread to her lungs and she was given between six months and two years to live.
Susan was still determined to get to work, delay chemotherapy, and not tell anybody about her tragic news.
Before and after work she would go for radiotherapy sessions at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
But in June she was told it had spread to her spleen and to a spot on her liver so she started chemotherapy.
After her first round, she suffered from heart problems and faced a tough decision about whether she should undergo a second round but doctors went ahead.
Less than a month later, on July 14, she died from heart failure. She had been at work just days before she died.
Susan was just 47 and leaves behind her 16-year-old son Tom and partner John.
Her death came nine weeks after her brother Jeff died suddenly from internal bleeding aged just 49.
It left older sister Andrea, 52, and their father, Ivor, devastated.
Earlier this month, Susan was honoured with a special award from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board at its Staff Recognition Awards held at the Christchurch Centre in Newport.
Susan received a Special Recognition Award for her “outstanding dedication, commitment and resilience in the face of very difficult and unusual circumstances”.
John accepted the award on her behalf.
Andrea said she was so proud of her sister – especially after she had lots of medical problems growing up.
Susan suffered from lupus from the age of 16 and had numerous blood clots, as well as five pulmonary embolisms – one of which was when she was pregnant with son Tom.
Despite the blood clots and constant pain, Susan kept working without complaining, Andrea said.
She added: “We’re never going to get over it. I lost my best friend when she died.
“We’re absolutely heartbroken but her colleagues put her in for this award. It was heartbreaking but we were bursting with pride as well. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It meant a lot to us all. I just wish she’d had this award before she died. She was and still is our hero.”
Ivor paid tribute to his “wonderful” daughter who was loved by everyone she met.
“She had a wonderful nature,” he said. “She was loved by all the children where she worked. She was so giving in every form.
“We were in the hospital once and everyone said ‘Hi’ to her and I thought ‘That’s my daugher’.
“There’s not a day that we don’t think about her. I was so proud of her.”