Widower's desperate attempt to return to UK after tragic death of husband
A British man is pleading for support as he tries to return home after discovering the crippling financial reality of being widowed in America.
Robert Washington-Nance, 53, moved from Cheshire to the United States in 2015 to marry his partner, Brad Nance, after the legalisation of same-sex marriage by then-President Barack Obama. But within three years, the couple were told the news that changed their lives.
Brad was informed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a disease with a survival rate of under ten percent, and their world fell apart. After major surgery and chemotherapy, he was briefly given the all-clear - but the cancer returned aggressively in 2019 and he died on July 11, 2020, at the age of 56. It comes after a doctor's warning to people who drink even a 'single cup of tea'.
READ MORE: NHS warns mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease
The financial hardship has since hit home for heartbroken Robert and now he is appealing for help to return home with his beloved dog after the death of his husband. He says he simply cannot afford to live in America any more - but can't get home without aid.
He said: 'I never expected to fall in love and get married in the USA. We built our life together across two countries before finally being able to marry. I've lived in Ellesmere Port, worked in Portsmouth with the Royal Navy, and spent years in London.
"Losing Brad was the hardest thing I've ever faced. Since then, life in the US has been incredibly difficult. As a widower, I've been navigating grief alone with my loyal little dog - a sweet Yorkie mix I've had since he was three months old. He's been my lifeline through this loss, the only reason I've kept going.
"Unfortunately, I am not eligible for widower's pension here, and the cost of living and healthcare keeps rising, I had hoped to build a life here in Brad's memory, but I now realise that I need to return home to the UK, where I was born and raised.
"I need to be closer to family support, and familiar surroundings." Robert went on. 'The UK is where my roots are. I just want to go home with my dog and start over in peace.'
He is making a plea for assistance to go back to his native UK with his 10-year-old rescue dog, Bronco, after the death of his husband and years of financial struggle. Without access to US survivor benefits and facing soaring living costs, Robert declared himself bankrupt in January 2025.
He has since struggled to cover basic expenses while caring for Bronco, the Yorkie mix they rescued as a puppy. Robert now hopes to return to the UK to rebuild his life.
His plan includes renewing his passport, obtaining a pet passport for Bronco, and travelling by ship from New York to Southampton — a safer alternative for his dog than a transatlantic flight.
"I'm asking for help to cover the travel expenses for me and Bronco to get safely back to the UK. I'm hoping to travel by cruise ship from New York to Southampton so Bronco doesn't have to endure the stress of flying in cargo.
"I also need to renew my British passport, obtain a pet passport for Bronco, and bring Brad's ashes home with me - something that is deeply important to me."
Robert has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs, including travel and initial living expenses upon arrival in the UK.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds
ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can involve being inattentive, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Ritalin is often prescribed to treat ADHD (Image: Daily Record) Drug treatment for ADHD can reduce patients' substance misuse, suicidal behaviour and criminal behaviour, a new study has found. Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can involve being inattentive, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The neurodevelopmental disorder is thought to affect around 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. The study, which appeared in the British Medical Journal, examined 148,581 people in Sweden who had a new diagnosis of ADHD. Drug treatment for ADHD was associated with reduced rates of suicidal behaviour, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality. "These results provide evidence on the effects of ADHD drug treatment on important health-related and social outcomes that should inform clinical practice and the debate on the drug treatment of ADHD," the report said. Article continues below In June, a taskforce said NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis and support have led to a "significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated". The ADHD taskforce, commissioned by NHS England with the support of the Government, published an interim report saying the system for diagnosing and managing ADHD needs to be overhauled. At the moment, ADHD assessment and treatment in England is provided by highly specialised doctors in secondary care. But the report warned: "Inability to access NHS services has led to a significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated, resulting in two-tier access to services, diagnosis and treatment; one for those who can pay and another for those who cannot. "This drives health inequalities and links to disproportionate impacts and outcomes in the education and justice systems, employment and health." Wait times for NHS ADHD services "have escalated and are unacceptably long" and demand is "very likely" to continue to rise, the study warned. Article continues below The NHS has launched publicly available data collection on ADHD referrals and waiting times to help local teams better understand how they are performing.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pharmacist's verdict on whether ice cold or room temperature water is best in heatwave
Staying hydrated during the fourth heatwave of 2025 is imperative – and a pharmacist has cleared up if it's better to drink cold or room temperature beverages when it's hot During spells of hot weather, it's so tempting to reach for a tall glass of iced water. But according to one health expert, this could actually end up making you feel even hotter. With the UK basking in another hot snap, heeding this pharmacist's advice could be an absolute game-changer. This sunny period will constitute the fourth heatwave of the summer so far. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures rise above the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days. That threshold varies from 25C to 28C across the country. So with that being said, it's important to stay hydrated with plenty of water. And apparently, room temperature is best. A Spanish pharmacist told his 3.7million followers: 'What is better when it is too hot? To drink cold or room-temperature water? Psychologically, it may seem that cold water refreshes you more, but it's not true. 'Because it is colder, it makes your body work more to regulate the temperature, and the body generates heat, so room-temperature water might be better. 'There are even African countries where people drink hot liquids in the summer, and say that it helps to sweat, and sweat helps to cool off, but I think that is a cultural issue that we will never accept here. Imagine how little you feel like drinking tea in the middle of a desert!' While hot water may not feel like the most appealing idea when it's scorching hot outside, opting for room temperature water could make all the difference. Room temperature water is closer to your body's natural temperature, so your body doesn't need to expend extra energy to warm it up or cool it down. This allows for quicker hydration. What's more, it helps to maintain your core body temperature, allowing your body's natural cooling process (sweating) to work efficiently. Cold water can sometimes trick your body into thinking it's cooler than it is, which may reduce sweating and slow down cooling. Some also believe that drinking room temperature drinks is much easier than sipping on ice cold water. For one, it doesn't give you a brain freeze! For that reason, you're actually more likely to glug the whole glass down rather than taking smaller sips. What does the NHS say about drinking water? The NHS advises: 'Most people should aim to drink enough during the day so their pee is a clear pale yellow colour. 'The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count. 'You may need to drink more fluids if you're: "pregnant or breastfeeding "in a hot environment "physically active for long periods "ill or recovering from illness.'
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Hopsital restaurant in Leicester reopens following blaze
NHS trust bosses have praised staff for working "around the clock" to overcome disruption caused by a fire at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Ten fire crews were called to the hospital on 10 May to tackle the blaze, which started due to an electrical fault and caused severe heat and fire damage to a food storage area as well as smoke damage to nearby rooms and corridors. A plan was then put in place to continue to serve food to patients at all three hospitals run by the University of Leicester Hospitals NHS Trust and repair the damage caused by the fire. The restaurant at Leicester Royal Infirmary has now reopened. Nick Lee, retail catering facilities manager at the trust said: "We pulled together very quickly to get patients fed in the immediate aftermath of the fire. "The top priority initially was to maintain meal provision for patients across all three hospital sites. "Within hours of the fire, catering teams implemented a temporary plan to redirect production to kitchens at the Leicester General Hospital and the Glenfield Hospital, supported by rapid stock movement from site to added: "Portering teams played a vital role, helping to move chilled and frozen food between locations, while cleaning teams ensured alternative areas were safe and fit for food preparation."Dharminder Shoker, associate director of commercial services, said: "I'm very proud of the organisation that we work for and the people that are working in it. "It's thanks to the team effort across the board, with everyone going the extra mile to get the kitchen back up and running. I want to thank all colleagues involved, there are too many to name, but my thanks go out to all of you."
