Ray Barney’s Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy

Hi, my name is Sophie & I’m Ray Barney’s step-daughter.

I’m setting up this GoFundMe in hopes that the community would be able to help us raise funds to help support Ray’s recovery with his Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy.

Just some background of dad’s story;

On Friday the 19th of July 2024 Ray had a massive stroke, mum woke up to find him off balance, disoriented and barely able to talk.

She immediately rang for an ambulance to be told it would be a 3-6 hour wait, but with the help of ray’s brother & brother in-law, his dad & my auntie, they managed to get him to A&E.

Time ticked away and after a CT scan, Southmead Hospital in Bristol accepted Ray for surgery to remove the blood clot which was on the right side of his brain which was blocking the supply of nerves to his left side.

But unfortunately due to several factors that day; IT glitch(systems and phone lines being down) and no air ambulance being available, Ray took the journey via road ambulance.

On arrival at Bristol and having a further CT it was decided it was too late to operate and that the damage had been done. They then decided at that point they would operate to remove some of Ray’s skull to allow his brain to swell, which would basically save his life!

After a second operation to try and stem some bleeding due to blood clotting issues, they finally managed to stabilise him. He spent just over a week on the ICU in Southmead.

Ray gained consciousness straight after the operation!

He then spent 3 months in Glangwili Stroke Ward(Gwenllian) until his referral was then accepted by Neath Port Talbot Neuro Rehabilitation Unit which he then spent a further 6 months working hard to get him up on his feet and walking again!

Mum made the hour & a half journey to go be with dad nearly every day to be his voice and comfort, he was finally able to come home for weekend visits until they then released him on the 4th of March to be back home with us all!

After hitting many walls regarding grants & funds for adaptions and modifications towards the house and lack of one to one support for physiotherapy, mum now needs help and support to make caring for dad easier, as she has now had to give up working full time in order to look after dad as WELL as being a full time mother to two young girls.

Ray was receiving physiotherapy 5 times a week, but now that he’s been discharged there are no services provided. Funds will go towards one to one support for dad as he still has a long way to go with his rehabilitation journey.

Funds will be used towards adaption of the bathroom to make it into a wet room so that dad can shower more independently, The driveway needs to be widened so that dad has easier access in and out of the car.

It would also be amazing if we could change the back doors leading to the garden so that dad can spend more time outdoors, as his garden used to be his pride & joy(he loved mowing the grass).

We as a family would be eternally grateful for any amount of money or support received towards dad’s journey. Life really did stop after his stroke for a while but as long as we carry on as a family and being positive, the stroke will not define us nor will it beat us!

Thank you to all those who have supported us and continue to support us throughout these times. Please share dad’s story far and wide!