In 2020, when Wales and the rest of the UK was reeling from pandemic restrictions, one Swansea mum’s whole world changed. Bethan Germon, a mum of two, tragically lost her four-year-old daughter, Lydia – and the whole family’s lives shattered into pieces.
Lydia had been born with an extremely rare genetic condition and in her infancy, she’d also been diagnosed with various other serious medical conditions. She needed round-the-clock care and Bethan, her husband Dave and their other daughter Caitlin, now 14, dedicated all their time to looking after Lydia and taking her to hospital appointment after hospital appointment and doctor visit after doctor visit.
Whilst there had been support for the family when Lydia was in palliative care, sadly the support dissipated after she passed away – something that’s quite common in the UK, with support for families after they experience a bereavement practically non-existent, Bethan said. She said her and her family were essentially left to fend for themselves through their devastating grief and had to learn to navigate their lives without Lydia without any proper support or practical help. To get the latest Swansea news stories to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter
