Tanwen Lloyd Taith Fawr y Dyn Bach

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-I'm James Lusted.

-I'm 26 and I have Diastrophic

-Dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism.

-I live at home with my parents

-and brother Phil.

-Phil has the same condition.

-I don't allow my disability

-to hold me back.

-In fact, I hate the word disabled.

-In this series, I'll travel Wales

-to meet other disabled people...

-..to experience life

-through their eyes.

-Subtitles

-It's great to have another chance

-to travel around Wales...

-..to meet people who are disabled

-or have other conditions.

-The last journey

-was exciting and fun...

-..though emotional at times.

-I'm sure this journey

-will be just as memorable.

-My life has changed

-since the last series.

-I've met my girlfriend, Chloe.

-We're shopping in Chester.

-Where shall we go for lunch?

-I don't know. Shame there's not

-a Nando's around here!

-No. It would be good to go there.

-I'll never forget when we walked in

-and she said, "Table for two."

-We got a menu for you

-and a colouring book for me!

-Chloe and I often go shopping.

-We've been together for months.

-It's both interesting and amusing...

-..to see the reaction

-of children and adults.

-We have fun and a laugh about it.

-Chloe understands that I'm

-different, that we're different.

-She is well aware of that.

-We've discussed it

-in depth as a couple.

-It doesn't make any difference to

-us. We enjoy each other's company.

-I'm looking forward

-to the future with her.

-After a good day's shopping in

-Chester, it's time to head for home.

-There's another busy day

-ahead for me tomorrow.

-I'm meeting a remarkable family

-in Caernarfon.

-Tanwen Lloyd's support worker

-visits every day.

-Tanwen has a learning disability

-and epilepsy.

-Mandy helps to get her

-daughter ready for school.

-Hiya, Mandy.

-Good morning. Are you OK?

-Good morning. Are you OK?

-

-Yes, thanks.

-Is Sara up?

-Sara!

-Sara!

-

-Yes?

-Hurry up and get dressed.

-Do you want the dog to go out?

-Go out, Tomos. There's a good boy.

-To enable Tanwen and Sara to live

-as independently as possible...

-..a support worker

-helps with daily chores.

-Tanwen's learning disability

-and epilepsy...

-..mean certain tasks are hard to do.

-Mandy has been coming here

-for seven or eight years.

-Mandy and I are childhood friends.

-We have a good relationship.

-I know the family too.

-She's more like a friend

-than a support worker.

-Has the toast gone in?

-It's in the toaster. OK?

-You don't want Sara to be late.

-You don't want Sara to be late.

-

-No.

-We share secrets.

-We chat as best friends do.

-Hello, Mandy.

-Can you pass the tablets,

-please, Mandy?

-We're friends.

-I'm more like Sara's aunt.

-They're used to having people here.

-That's good for Sara.

-She accepts that her mother

-needs our support.

-She's happy to see me,

-wherever I am. She's like that.

-She's affectionate.

-They have a close

-mother and daughter relationship.

-Do you want Mam to cut it?

-Do you want Mam to cut it?

-

-Please.

-I'm a single mother. I look after

-Sara and she looks after me.

-We watch out for each other,

-like a team.

-We try to be as normal as possible.

-Tanwen has a dispenser

-for her morning and evening tablets.

-Her condition affects her memory.

-BUZZER

-Take your tablets!

-Tanwen has assistive technology

-in her home.

-A Telecare system connects directly

-to the community support line.

-It was designed for people

-who have a memory impairment.

-Sorry to disturb you, Mrs Lloyd.

-Are you OK?

-I've just taken my tablets.

-Thank you. Ta-ta.

-Ta-ra.

-Sara Lois,

-these curls can be annoying!

-I'm taller than you!

-I'm taller than you!

-

-You don't say.

-Bag.

-If I remember rightly, your phone

-is next to your school uniform.

-I don't need it.

-I don't need it.

-

-OK.

-Let me just fix your collar.

-Off to school!

-Thank you, Mam. Have a good day.

-Sara has more responsibilities

-than most thirteen-year-olds.

-Mandy takes over

-as soon as she's left for school.

-Mandy's taking Tanwen

-grocery shopping today.

-But first, they check the food

-sell-by date...

-..to see what can be thrown out

-and what needs to be bought.

-This has to be eaten today.

-You could have it for tea

-with a jacket potato.

-The bacon has to be used

-before Wednesday.

-The fridge is quite bare.

-We'd better get some stuff.

-Mandy is a great help

-with the food shopping.

-There's no telling

-what Tanwen would buy!

-If we don't go together...

-..she can't see what to buy.

-She'd buy crisps and pop.

-She doesn't think about food.

-It's not that she doesn't want

-to buy it, she doesn't realize.

-If Sara has tea with relatives...

-..Tanwen doesn't consider

-that she needs food for herself.

-Do you want any fruit?

-Apples and maybe pears?

-Yes.

-How about swede mash?

-What shall I have?

-I don't know what I'd do

-without Mandy's help.

-I'd buy junk, I guess.

-On the top shelf.

-OK. I wish I wasn't so short!

-Can you reach it?

-She helps me to check the dates...

-..to make sure the food I buy lasts.

-The 26th.

-She's a great help and gives me

-confidence to go shopping.

-I think it's a good idea...

-..to have someone I know with me.

-I'd be nervous if I was on my own.

-That's what it says there.

-"Helps protect

-for more healthy hair and scalp."

-Thank you.

-Let's load the car.

-They can put the shopping away...

-..while I'm on my way to Caernarfon

-to meet Gwyneth, Tanwen's mother.

-When did you notice

-that Tanwen was different?

-I didn't notice anything...

-..until the day

-she had her first seizure.

-We took her to the doctor.

-She was referred

-to Ysbyty Gwynedd for tests.

-It was confirmed she was epileptic.

-When was

-the learning disability diagnosed?

-Around the time

-she began to have fits...

-..at the age of eleven.

-Before she began to have fits...

-..she was incredibly bubbly...

-..all the time.

-She was like any other teenager.

-When Tanwen was pregnant...

-..did you worry how she'd cope?

-I was concerned

-that Sara might be epileptic...

-..and how it could affect her.

-But I was fully aware that

-support and assistance is available.

-We're there for her too...

-..and her mother-in-law.

-How has Tanwen coped

-with bringing up Sara?

-She has done an excellent job.

-She's succeeded.

-We're in the background...

-..but she doesn't want us

-to interfere too much.

-She's coped very well.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-When I was in Chester

-with my girlfriend, Chloe...

-..I bought a new shirt.

-Before I can wear it, Nain

-will alter it to fit me properly.

-That's nice.

-Nice and bright for summer.

-I need it shortening on the bottom.

-I need it shortening on the bottom.

-

-Do you want to try it on?

-It'll probably

-look like a dress on me!

-Not for long.

-Unlike most people,

-I can't wear clothes off the peg.

-Nain has always altered clothes

-for me and my brother Phil.

-I don't know

-what I'd do without her.

-Does Chloe sew?

-I don't think so.

-I don't think she does, no.

-She'll have to learn!

-She'll have to learn!

-

-She will.

-I'll pass the baton on to her.

-I'll pass the baton on to her.

-

-You'll have to teach her.

-I'll let Nain get on with my shirt.

-It's time to meet Tanwen.

-I wondered how she coped...

-..when the epilepsy and

-learning disability were diagnosed.

-Hi, James. Come in.

-Hi, James. Come in.

-

-Thank you.

-Due to the epilepsy,

-they knew something would happen.

-It resulted in learning disability.

-Epilepsy slows down the brain.

-I couldn't catch up...

-..as well as the other children.

-Has the learning disability

-prevented you from doing anything?

-I was terribly nervous

-when I was younger.

-It stopped me from doing

-a lot of things I wanted to do.

-It was a shame, but I had to accept

-I couldn't do those things.

-Despite all of this...

-..Tanwen realized her dream

-of a wedding and having a child.

-I had always wanted a child, always.

-I never thought

-I'd actually have a child...

-..because of my learning disability

-and epilepsy.

-Were people concerned

-how you'd cope with raising Sara?

-I was worried in the beginning...

-..whether or not

-I'd be allowed to keep Sara.

-I was lucky.

-I had my family around to help me...

-..to understand

-how to raise a child...

-..how to feed her

-and give her a happy life.

-All those concerns.

-I never thought I'd lose Sara...

-..because I have

-my family behind me.

-It wasn't an easy pregnancy.

-Unfortunately,

-the baby came sooner than expected.

-Sara was born ten weeks prematurely.

-She was so tiny.

-She was put in an incubator.

-I was scared of putting

-my hands in the incubator.

-All I could see

-were bones and thin, thin skin.

-It was horrible, honest.

-But I feel quite lucky.

-Some premature babies don't survive.

-I'm happy that she's here.

-Without Sara,

-I don't know where I'd be.

-Tanwen faced another dramatic change

-when Sara was only five.

-Her husband, Dylan, died suddenly.

-How did you cope through that?

-The first year was hard.

-Sara was young.

-Sara didn't know what was happening.

-I felt I was all alone.

-He always came with me

-wherever I went.

-He'd come shopping with me.

-There was no way

-I'd leave the house without him.

-Thanks to Sara, my confidence grew

-and I began to go out.

-She's constantly encouraging me

-to go out.

-"You have to do it, Mam,"

-she says.

-"There's no point staying in

-the house."

-You and Sara Lois make a good team.

-Yes. We do everything together.

-I hope I don't put

-too much pressure on her.

-She's only thirteen years old.

-Girls that age

-should be out having fun.

-It's what teenagers do.

-Mam and I have a cuppa together.

-I make sure Mam

-takes her tablets twice a day.

-I do the housework

-and wash the dishes.

-I wash and fold the clothes.

-Mam is epileptic.

-How do you feel

-when Mam has a fit?

-I get scared.

-Do you feel sad?

-Do you feel sad?

-

-But I know she'll be OK.

-Do you worry about Mam?

-Do you worry about Mam?

-

-Yes.

-When you're in school

-and out with friends?

-When I come home,

-I'm relieved that Mam is OK.

-What sort of relationship

-do you have with your mother?

-Mam and I are like two sisters.

-How has having Sara

-changed your life?

-It's changed my life for the better.

-She means the whole world to me.

-She's a beautiful girl

-and she's happy.

-Since Tanwen's husband died...

-..Sara has cared for her mother...

-..with the support

-of the local authority.

-To give Sara a break from caring...

-..she has one-to-one support

-from the Young Carers Project.

-This is nice.

-Is the mint choc chip one nice?

-Is the mint choc chip one nice?

-

-Yes.

-At least it's dry. We wouldn't

-want ice cream if it was raining.

-Sara has support from

-the Gwynedd Young Carers Project.

-A young carer

-is a child or young person...

-..who cares for someone at home...

-..who has a condition...

-..special needs or disabilities

-that require care.

-We assess Sara's role as a carer...

-..and support her needs.

-When she was younger...

-..she didn't understand

-that she was a young carer.

-She did it because

-she was used to doing it.

-It's terribly difficult.

-Their childhood

-is taken away from them.

-They have to be like adults.

-They have to cope with situations...

-..that most children

-would never come across.

-Has anything changed

-since I last saw you?

-Mam lets me come to town on my own.

-Is it nice to have that freedom?

-Yes.

-When Mam is having a bad day, is

-there anything you do differently?

-I'm there when she needs me.

-Taking part in these activities

-with the project...

-..boosts their confidence.

-They feel better about themselves.

-It's nice for the families too.

-Many parents feel guilty

-about the situation.

-Having the chance to go out...

-..and joining in our programme of

-activities makes them feel better.

-In order to encourage Tanwen

-to cook at home...

-..the social services have arranged

-for her to attend a cookery course.

-It's aimed at people

-with learning disabilities.

-I'm not much of a chef myself.

-I decided to find out

-if I could learn something too.

-Hiya, Tanwen.

-You look busy! What are you doing?

-You look busy! What are you doing?

-

-I'm making salmon fishcakes.

-Do you want to wear your pinny?

-Do you want to wear your pinny?

-

-Yes.

-I'll help you.

-Can you tie it up at the back?

-Thank you.

-Are these classes helpful?

-Yes. They give me

-a lot of self-esteem.

-Before Sara was born,

-I was scared of using the cooker.

-I was scalded by boiling water

-in my auntie's house.

-I haven't used a cooker since then.

-I've just started to feel confident

-enough to make myself a cuppa.

-Do you cook?

-Do you cook?

-

-Sometimes I do.

-It's hard,

-because I can't reach the worktop.

-I get up on a stool.

-I get up on a stool.

-

-Is the kitchen adapted for you?

-No, because I live at home with

-Mam and Dad. Mam does the cooking.

-Sometimes,

-I'll stand on a stool or ladder.

-We have a small area

-in the kitchen...

-..where my brother and I

-can cook or make a cuppa.

-But the kitchen itself

-hasn't been adapted.

-I thought this would be simple.

-But it's hard work!

-Do you want some of this

-to make yours bigger?

-Don't tell anyone!

-We'll make two each.

-There you are.

-There you are.

-

-Thank you.

-Is it alright like that?

-We have to take them to the cooker.

-They need to cook in the oven

-for 20 minutes.

-I'll take them.

-Do you want to come with me?

-Yes.

-I'll close the door.

-After spending time with Tanwen

-what really struck me...

-..was the closeness

-of the relationship...

-..between mother and daughter.

-They have a lovely relationship

-and are supportive of one another.

-Their story shows how families can

-help each other through hard times.

-These two great characters

-are a fantastic team.

-S4C Subtitles by Gwead