Grandad was on deathbed surrounded by family before 'modern-day miracle' saved him

A man so critically ill that his family gathered to say their farewells has returned to the hospital that saved his life on two separate occasions within two years to express his gratitude to staff. Leighton Davies from Cwmavon is currently working tirelessly to recover his mobility following complications arising from Covid, bacterial meningitis and further health issues that endangered his life between 2023 and 2025. The grandfather-of-five had been managing heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis and a condition known as spinal stenosis - a narrowing of the tunnel in the spine which presses on the nerves causing pain and weakness in the legs - when his health deteriorated significantly in the autumn of 2023. The medication he is prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis suppresses his immune system, leaving him vulnerable to infection. His condition worsened during this period. For the latest Neath Port Talbot news, sign up to our newsletter here . "He wasn't getting any better," said Leighton's wife, Melanie. Following his admission to ward J at Morriston Hospital, staff delivered the devastating news that he had contracted Covid and was struggling to breathe. They feared he might not pull through. "I was told to call the family. They were moving him to palliative care," said Melanie. "Our daughters came over and said their goodbyes on the Monday. That day he was on the highest amount of oxygen." However, as Melanie outlined, a number of staff including the Infectious Diseases Team and Critical Care Outreach Team "left no stone unturned" and tried everything they could to save him. This led to what she believes was "a modern-day miracle", with Leighton sat up in bed "eating, drinking and joking" by the Friday. "Everybody came to see because they couldn't believe what had happened," she said. Brendan Healy, consultant in microbiology and infectious diseases for Public Health Wales, revealed that the infectious disease team treated Leighton with a combination of therapies. He noted that the Covid diagnosis, made by virology laboratory staff, was the pivotal first step towards Leighton's survival. He said: "We can be confident that the Covid diagnosis made a huge difference in his case because it enabled us to target both the virus and his immune response to the virus and it is without question that one of these two treatment options resulted in his recovery." Despite managing the lasting effects of pulmonary fibrosis - scarring of the lung tissue attributed to Covid - Leighton was able to resume a normal life. Then in early 2025 he was admitted to hospital for spinal surgery. The procedure was successful and, despite a few complications, he returned home several weeks later. "Then I woke up one morning and Leighton was unresponsive in bed next to me," said Melanie. Rushed to Morriston Hospital once again, it was discovered he had meningitis caused by the Klebsiella bacteria. Gravely ill and vulnerable, Leighton also endured kidney failure, signs of a cardiac arrest known as a peri arrest, sepsis, a further bout of Covid and additional complications with an unstable spine requiring spinal surgery, in the weeks that followed. Yet again, however, a vast number of dedicated staff supported Leighton, including those in Public Health Wales Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, the Intensive Care Unit, the Critical Care Outreach Team, the Spinal Team, staff on wards G and H, and physiotherapists. "Everyone kept fighting and so did we," said Melanie. Dr Healy noted that bacteriology lab staff identified a particularly resistant strain of Klebsiella, and their efforts enabled clinicians to deploy treatments, including new antibiotics, effective against this bacteria. He went on to say: "The work in the lab was critical in enabling the clinical staff to prescribe the correct treatments and it was great to see the lab staff receiving some recognition for their contribution to Leighton's survival." A brief return to hospital in September 2025 for treatment for diverticulitis saw Leighton treated on ward V. He has since been recuperating at home with the assistance of a physiotherapist. In March, the couple - who have three grown-up children - welcomed their fifth grandchild, Betty. She, along with Kane, 10, Blake, seven, Maddie, six, and James, four, serve as a driving force for Leighton to press on with his rehabilitation journey despite its numerous challenges. "All the grandchildren call him Grumpy, except James who calls him Papa," said Melanie. "As Leighton has spent so much time in bed, he's taken up Lego as a hobby and Blake loves doing that with him." Acknowledging that circumstances could have been vastly different for their family, Melanie said that staff deserve proper recognition - not only for the care they provided Leighton, but also for the support they extended to her. "The sisters supported me as well as Leighton," said Melanie, who would spend up to 18 hours a day in hospital with her husband for months at a time. "They would make sure I could use the shower when it was quiet at night and made sure I was eating and drinking. It was beyond what you would believe from a hospital. "And I have seen the staff go through so much themselves, but it never affected the way they worked." Reflecting on how hospital staff have become more akin to family over time, Melanie added: "Even now staff, including the healthcare support workers, message us to ask how he's doing." The Patient Choice Awards form an annual element of Swansea Bay University Health Board's staff recognition scheme and are presented directly following nominations from patients and their families. On this occasion, more than 500 nominations were submitted, with hundreds of awards distributed across over a dozen ceremonies. Leighton and Melanie visited Morriston Hospital as some of the many clinicians and microbiology staff involved in Leighton's diagnosis and treatment received Patient Choice Awards following a nomination from the couple. In separate presentations, the Infectious Diseases Team, including virology and bacteriology team members from Public Health Wales Microbiology Swansea, and the MSK Spinal Team were each presented with awards. Other teams, including ward staff, and individuals nominated by the couple, received their accolades at separate ceremonies. Rhiannon Hawes, Spinal Advanced Nurse Practitioner, who collected the award on behalf of the entire MSK Spinal Team, said: "It is amazing to see Leighton now. He's like a different person." Leighton's return to Morriston represented a full circle moment for the staff who had witnessed him at his most vulnerable. "It's thanks to the care of all these people that he is alive. It's unbelievable," said Melanie. Reflecting on the months he spent in hospital, Leighton said: "They have all been brilliant and still are brilliant. It didn't feel like it was a job to them. It felt like they were caring for a friend or family member. "And today I felt like a celebrity with all the love I had from the staff. It has really perked me up. I'm just glad to be here." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice .