Bridport: Welcome break for caring husband Rick (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport: Welcome break for caring husband Rick

10:21am Thursday 4th February 2010

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THE white knights of Bridport Round Table rode to the rescue of a former US Air Force combat arms instructor in need of a holiday.

Rick Green, 54, has been caring for his paralysed wife with only one week off in the last five years.

The Joseph Weld hospice offered his wife Pam, 48, respite care to give him a much-needed break.

But with no way of transporting her specially-adapted chair it looked like Rick’s Torquay holiday was off.

Lee Chivers, who comes in to care for Pam suggested the Round Table could help and within hours the organisation organised to get the chair taken to the hospice.

Mrs Chivers said: “Rick is American and has only been here three years so he has no idea what help is out there. He looks after Pam 24/7 and really deserves a break.”

Julian Hussey of the Round Table said: “We are happy to help. Running AG Downe funeral directors and the monumental masons I knew I had two able chaps and a van able to collect the chair, and we’ll bring it back.”

When Rick and Pam Green met in 1989 she was full of life. Rick was stationed near Banbury.

They married and went to live in America. He retired from the air force after 18 years and became a gun salesman but was forced to give it up when she developed fibromyalgia which leaves her in constant pain and unable to move.

Then she suffered a brain haemorrhage, an aneurysm and a stroke which left her further paralysed and it was touch and go if she would live.

She is on morphine, localised pain patches and has to take 30 pills a day. She has Crohn’s disease and has had part of her bowel removed.

There was very little help for her in America.

When they tried to get financial help they were told Pam could get a job stuffing teddy bears.

“I was not very proud to be an American that day,” said Rick.

Her mum, who lives in Bradpole, begged them to come to England and they finally moved to their specially-adapted Magna home in Bradpole.

Since her stroke in 2005, Rick has only had one break for a week.

“My last holiday I slept for three days,” he said.

“I’d never heard of the Round Table before but I am so grateful. It’s hard. I lost my job and my home because I had to look after Pam.

“She’s had a rough time but it’s all part of being married.”

Although going into respite care makes Pam very anxious and she hates to be away from Rick she says she knows how much he needs a break.

“I know Rick gets so worn down. I hate to be away from him but I do it because I love him.”

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