A super-mum who nursed her daughter through a life-threatening illness has won a Stretford Mall Mother’s Day competition with a £200 pamper package.
Beverley Wallace is ‘the rock that holds their family together’ according to daughter Jessica Wallace, 28, who was struck with the potentially fatal blood-poisoning condition, Sepsis.
Gall bladder stones caused a blockage which backtracked to her liver and contaminated her blood with toxins. It hit Jessica only months after Beverley herself was hospitalised following a heart attack.
Despite still being in recovery, Beverley, 60, summoned her strength to feed, wash and dress her daughter when Sepsis left her incapacitated and through a subsequent operation to remove her gall bladder.
At the same time Beverley looked after the rest of her family, including husband, Paul, 64 – Jessica’s dad – who suffers an irregular heartbeat.
In another cruel twist of fate, when Jessica’s baby daughter, Madison, also suffered Sepsis at birth Beverley redoubled her efforts to care for her granddaughter too.
Madison is now a fully recovered, healthy two year old.
But Jessica, having fought to overcome the Sepsis, has fallen victim to ill health once more, awaiting crucial surgery on her spine.
Off work from her job as a nurse, she said: “I’ve had a degenerative disc disease for several years but it was recently made worse by a slipped disc. I’m in pain with little strength in my legs. I can barely bend and can’t drive.”
The only solution is an operation. While Jessica is on the waiting list Beverley has selflessly stepped up to the plate again, doing housework, and ferrying Jessica’s partner Liam to his work at a cinema.
Jessica, of Bridge Close, Partington, said: “Mum’s there for us 24/7. She’s a tower of strength helping me, Liam, our daughter, Madison, my two sisters, my niece Katie and our dad through a nightmarish few years.
“She always puts us first and herself last. She goes out of her way all the time to help us. It’s impossible to say how grateful we are. That’s why I nominated her for Mum in a Million – and I’m thrilled we now get to tell the whole world how fantastic she is.”
Stretford Mall launched the competition to celebrate Mother’s Day 2018, which falls on Sunday, March 11.
Centre manager Gareth Wilkins said all the nominees were superstars but Jessica’s story touched the judges’ hearts.
He said: “Beverley has pulled out the stops to help her family through one difficult situation after another. She’s a remarkable lady who truly deserves to win. We’re delighted to help make Mother’s Day that much more special for her this year.”
Beverley’s luxury prizes include a £90 make-over at Glam Academy, a £75 voucher to be spent at stores in Stretford Mall, a £46 bottle of Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle from The Fragrance Shop, plus a relaxing drink and cake for two at Costa Coffee.
The first Beverley, who has two other daughters, Gemma and Paula, and is grandmother to four-year-old Katie and two-year-old Madison, knew about the competition was when Jessica told her she’d won.
Jessica said: “I didn’t even tell dad or my sisters I’d nominated her as I didn’t want to get our hopes up. I was over the moon to be told she’d won.
“Mum was quite emotional when I told her, holding back a tear. I know she’s thrilled with her prize.”
Beverley, of Epping Drive, Sale, admits to being ‘shell-shocked’ on hearing the news.
She said: “I couldn’t take it in at first, then I thought what a lovely thing to do.
“But I’ve only done what any other mother would. That’s a mum’s job, looking after the family.”
“I’m looking forward to making the most of the prizes – they have got some excellent stores at Stretford Mall and it will be nice to have a mooch around and spend my vouchers.”
Beverley was employed by Trafford Council for nearly 30 years first as a home help, then as a re-enablement care worker.
Before that she was a hairdresser and also worked in a greengrocers.
She said: “I saw the ad for care workers and applied. It was the best job in the world and so rewarding seeing someone who’d been poorly, get up and about, back on their feet again.”
Now retired she remains busy helping loved ones, including Jessica’s sisters Gemma, 35, and Paula, 37, and their families.
“I don’t like to stay still for too long!” she laughed. “I enjoy taking my granddaughter Katie to school and picking her up, it’s lovely to have a close knit family.”
Relaxation comes from playing darts in Sale and District Ladies league, having been a keen player since she was aged 18.
“We’ve won a few trophies over the years. We’re quite a good team now,” she said.
She also loves family holidays, adding: “We all went to Lanzarote last year and we’re going to Greece next time. It’s nice having everyone together enjoying themselves.”
