Couple's golden gifts to hospital
A Staffordshire couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary by giving up gifts to help the hospital ward which allowed them to reach their special milestone.
Brona and Reg Davies, from Highfields, Stafford, asked all guests at their recent 50th wedding anniversary party to give donations for Stafford Hospital's intensive care unit instead of buying a present
The couple, who have six children and 15 grandchildren, wanted to thank the hospital for saving Mrs Davies' life 11 years ago.
Mrs Davies, who was born in County Down, Ireland, and who met her husband after moving to Stafford to start work at English Electric, said: "I had double pneumonia in 1997 and I had to be put on a life support machine. I was in hospital for a month.
"What the staff did for me was amazing. They saved my life and enabled me to have another 11 years of good life.
"They were all wonderful. I still come to the hospital for various appointments and have never found fault with any of the staff, they are all so caring and kind.
"I always said if ever I won any money, I would give it to the intensive care unit to thank them for saving my life, but I've never been lucky enough to win any. "We just thought that this would be a nice way of showing our support for the hospital. At our time of life, we've already got everything we need so we asked for people to donate money instead."
Mrs Davies, aged 74, added: "It was a lovely party and we're thrilled with the amount we got.
"If we're still around for our diamond wedding anniversary, we might be able to raise even more."
Matron Debbie Fox said: "The donation is a lovely gesture from Mr and Mrs Davies.
"It is always great to hear how well our former patients have done after they have left our care and we would like to wish Mr and Mrs Davies all the best for the future."
