Back with the pack!
as she was fighting for her life, something special was giving Nikki Davies, 53, from reading, incredible strength
Wolves gave me a sense of peace, made me feel calm
Lying in the hospital bed, I waited nervously.
My husband Simon, then 50, sat beside me, equally anxious. It was last March and, for a year, I’d been suffering from chest pains, fatigue, nausea and had lost lots of weight.
Now, I’d had some tests at Royal Berkshire Hospital and was awaiting the results. When they came...
‘You have adenocarcinoma,’ the doctor explained. ‘Which is pancreatic cancer.’
All so matter of fact. But at least I knew what was wrong.
I had a tumour, more than 7cm in diameter. The only way I’d survive was surgery.
The operation is called the Whipple procedure and was scheduled for two weeks’ time.
I was discharged, allowed home to get my strength back. I was going to need it. The statistics for patients
surviving pancreatic cancer were bleak, mainly because of late diagnosis. But, on the actual day of the operation at Churchill Hospital, in Oxford, it was poor Simon who looked terrified, as I was wheeled to theatre.
I was ready, felt positive.
Waking up in recovery, six hours later, I was very drowsy. The surgeon smiled. ‘It went well,’ he said. I spent the next few days with dozens of tubes attached to me, to drain fluid.
More than anything I was itching for life to get back to normal.
‘I’m missing my wolves,’ I said to Simon.
He knew just how passionate I was about volunteering at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust.
I’d been involved for the last eight years. Even bottle-fed three wolves from birth – Tala, Nuka and Tundra – helped them learn to be around humans. While I’d been ill, I’d had to stop handling them, as I was too weak.
But I’d still go and visit when I could. My babies were an extra inspiration to get well as soon as I could. The surgeon got my whole tumour and, luckily, the cancer hadn’t spread.
But I needed to have chemo as a precaution. In June this year, I started the treatment. With a weak immune system, I still couldn’t handle the wolves, but I started visiting regularly again, every Wednesday.
Spending time by the enclosures helped to lift my spirits so much.
Though I couldn’t touch them, it helped clear my head.
My wolves gave me a sense of peace, a reason to get out, a purpose.
Being around them made me feel very calm.
Especially my favourite girl Tundra.
She reminded me of myself. She knew who she liked and felt comfortable with, even hated having her picture taken – just like me!
Her confidence and the way she made me feel safe, made me stronger.
Then, in January this year I returned to work.
My chemo was over, my immune system recovered.
I could go back to handling the wolves.
‘My babies!’ I beamed, handling them all.
Now I go once a week to see Tundra and the others. I feed them and take them out for walks. They’ve had such a positive impact on me, my health, and recovery. Volunteering there was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I really don’t know where I’d be without my wolves.