A cherished painting has been returned to parents of the artist
– a young man who died at just 18 years old.

Ben's Mum and Dad Christine and Phil now have Ben's picture proudly hung in their home.

A painting of a tiger, created by Benjamin Davies, of Mold, graced the wall of an office at Hope House children’s hospice in Morda for 16 years. Signed simply ‘Ben’ the artist’s identity was unknown until a chance encounter. The picture has now been returned to grateful parents Phil and Christine Davies who have hung it up at their new home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Hope House Director of Income Generation and Communications, Simi Epstein, had enjoyed having the painting hung on her wall for 16 years before she was told who had painted it.

She remembers: “When I first started at Hope House, my office was bare so I went to the playroom to see if they had any children’s paintings they didn't need so that I could use. They gave me a folder and in it, amongst others, was a beautiful large painting of a tiger. I fell in love with it and had it framed. The painting moved with me each time I changed office.”

It was Community Liaison Nurse Lynn Piatczanyn who recognised the artwork. She identified the remarkable painting as the work of Benjamin, a young man who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and had died a number of years earlier. She had spent a lot of time with Benjamin, and knew the family, so asked if she could get in touch with them and see if they wanted the picture. Simi, of course, agreed.

“The painting was reunited with Benjamin’s grateful parents. It meant the world to them and when I handed it over at the hospice with Lynn, it was incredibly emotional but beautiful at the same time,” says Simi.

Ben died nine years ago, and Mum and Dad Christine and Phil have since moved from Mold, in Flintshire, to a new home in Scotland. The painting hangs as a precious memento of Benjamin.

“It’s a lovely reminder of Benjamin and his time at Hope House,” says Dad Phil.

“Benjamin visited the hospice regularly from the age of three years old up to the end of his life. He spent his final days at Hope House surrounded by family and much-loved staff there. We were able to say our goodbyes to him in the Snowflake Suite.”

Dad continues: “He lived life to the full. He loved arts and crafts, talents which he got from his mum, not me.”

“He loved spending time at Hope House and going out with the care team. He enjoyed trips to the theatre and cinema.

“Ben loved to watch football and supported Manchester United and Chester FC. We would often go and watch Chester play. He’d been swimming with dolphins in Florida twice, loved camping, and was a member of the cub scouts.

“1st Mynydd Isa scout group were so supportive and keen to include Benjamin in as much of their activities as possible. I remember that we went for a walk once at Loggerheads Country Park. It ended up as off roading through the trees and down the hillside in his manual wheelchair. He loved it!”

Mum Christine says: “He was such a caring boy who loved the nurses and carers. He used the hydrotherapy pool and loved the sensory room at Hope House. The hospice was so supportive throughout his life. There were sad times but there was also a lot of joy.”

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