DAD’S BUCKET LIST TO CREATE MEMORIES FOR HIS FAMILY
AFATHER of three given just two years to live is desperate to use that time to create a wheelchair accessible garden for his disabled, five-year-old daughter.
Richard Walters, from Merthyr Tydfil, was first diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago but at the end of last year he was given the heartbreaking news that he has only two years left.
Setting himself a bucket list of things to do before he dies, the selfless 33-year-old has mainly made it his goal to create as many memories as he can for his children.
He is still undergoing chemotherapy treatment in a bid to prolong his life and spend as much time as possible with wife Loretta and their three children – 10-yearold Callum, Lillianna, eight, and five-year-old Sophia.
His extraordinarily modest list includes a family caravan holiday, decorating the children’s bedrooms and making the garden wheelchair accessible for Sophia, who has spina bifida.
He would also like to see his favourite band, Bon Jovi, in concert, and wants to renew his wedding vows.
Loretta, 30, said: “When he was told he had two years left he was in shock, he kept apologising to me.
“We have talked about funeral arrangements.
“The children know and they are heartbroken at the thought of their dad not being here any more.”
In 2012 Richard suffered from headaches and his speech became slurred and he had a twitch in his right hand.
He was initially treated for migraines, then vertigo and it was then thought he was having seizures.
While he was on a six-month waiting list to see a neurologist his symptoms became worse and tests eventually showed he had a large tumour on the brain.
Richard had an operation to remove 98% of the growth and by 2015 the tumour was stable. Just a year later the symptoms returned and the tumour had spread to the other side of the brain. After two operations doctors told Richard his tumour was terminal and gave him two years to live. Loretta said: “Now he wants to create memories for us as a family so the kids can remember those moments with him. “He really wants us to go on holiday as a family. He doesn’t want to go abroad, he would rather stay local and maybe have a holiday in a caravan and take the kids to local beaches.
“We’ve been together for 12 years and got married six years ago.
“We have always talked about renewing our vows on our 10th wedding anniversary but that’s four years away, so we would like to get the chance to do that.
“His favourite band is Bon Jovi and his dream is to see them.
“When we were talking about funeral arrangements he said the only thing he wanted was Bon Jovi music.”
Richard also wants their garden to become wheelchair-accessible.
The couple’s youngest daughter, five-year-old Sophia, is wheelchairbound and Richard expects to have to use a wheelchair as he loses mobility.
Loretta added: “A local garden company has offered to do our garden and other people have offered to do the children’s bedrooms and a local business has donated the paint.”