Latest news with #AngelaRodenShepherd
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Gwent man fighting for life in Thai hospital has ‘woken up'
A Cwmbran man that's been 'fighting for his life' in a Thai hospital has 'woken up.' On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. 29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has 'woken up' after fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Now just a week later Ashton's gone from having a do not resuscitate order in place to being able to show basic signs of communication. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. In an emotional post online, she shared the happy news. Angela said: 'Progress is really good for Ashton. I actually spoke to him today which was amazing. 'I say speak I can speak to him, and he can acknowledge. He can nod and he can shake his head and that's purely because he's got the tube going down his throat. 'He's still being ventilated and tube fed but he is trying really hard to speak. He told his dad he loves him, told his friends that he misses them.' Ashton a week earlier fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) When Ashston went to Thailand he didn't have medical insurance in place. So, the family set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to bring him back to the UK. An incredible £22,110 has been raised so far which Angela explained has been going towards Ashton's increasing medical bills. In the video Angela said: 'We've raised an amazing amount of money, but we still have a little bit of a way to go. 'All our medical bills are starting to come out. As an example, the ventilator he's on is costing 60,000 baht a day which I believe is around £50 to £60.' 'That's without his medication, that's without his feeding tube, without the care the staff have been giving him every night he stays in hospital. So, we still do need to keep raising money.' Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Unsurprisingly Ashton's family are relieved that signs of recovery are starting to show. Angela told the Argus: 'In less than a week we've gone from having a do not revive in place to Ashton communicating with us. 'As the days go on, he's not stopping. He's smiling he's chatting he's telling his dad he loves him but it's still not safe for him to fly because of the length of time after surgery. 'The family are over the moon they just want him home now.' A community fundraiser is being held at the Halfway Pub in old Cwmbran. The event is taking place July 5 with all funds going towards bringing Ashton home. A raffle is being held alongside a barbecue and karaoke. The fundraiser will be running from 12pm onwards.
South Wales Argus
15 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran man fighting for life in Thai hospital has ‘woken up'
On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. 29-year-old Ashton Jones from Cwmbran has 'woken up' after fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Now just a week later Ashton's gone from having a do not resuscitate order in place to being able to show basic signs of communication. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. In an emotional post online, she shared the happy news. Angela said: 'Progress is really good for Ashton. I actually spoke to him today which was amazing. 'I say speak I can speak to him, and he can acknowledge. He can nod and he can shake his head and that's purely because he's got the tube going down his throat. 'He's still being ventilated and tube fed but he is trying really hard to speak. He told his dad he loves him, told his friends that he misses them.' Ashton a week earlier fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) When Ashston went to Thailand he didn't have medical insurance in place. So, the family set up a GoFundMe to help raise money to bring him back to the UK. An incredible £22,110 has been raised so far which Angela explained has been going towards Ashton's increasing medical bills. In the video Angela said: 'We've raised an amazing amount of money, but we still have a little bit of a way to go. 'All our medical bills are starting to come out. As an example, the ventilator he's on is costing 60,000 baht a day which I believe is around £50 to £60.' 'That's without his medication, that's without his feeding tube, without the care the staff have been giving him every night he stays in hospital. So, we still do need to keep raising money.' Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Unsurprisingly Ashton's family are relieved that signs of recovery are starting to show. Angela told the Argus: 'In less than a week we've gone from having a do not revive in place to Ashton communicating with us. 'As the days go on, he's not stopping. He's smiling he's chatting he's telling his dad he loves him but it's still not safe for him to fly because of the length of time after surgery. 'The family are over the moon they just want him home now.' A community fundraiser is being held at the Halfway Pub in old Cwmbran. The event is taking place July 5 with all funds going towards bringing Ashton home. A raffle is being held alongside a barbecue and karaoke. The fundraiser will be running from 12pm onwards.
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Cwmbran man Ashton Jones unresponsive in Thailand hospital
On May 30 29-year-old Ashton Jones, travelled to Bangkok Thailand with his lifelong friend for a lad's holiday. Ashton Jones who is currently fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) Sadly, just five days later his family received the news that Ashton had been separated from his friend and had undergone extensive emergency brain surgery. Ashston is currently in a Thai hospital fighting for his life. Because he didn't have any travel insurance his family have set up a GoFundMe to bring him home. Childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd aged 50 has been a shoulder for Ashton's family to lean on. Woman's relief after motorbike crash victim father is returned home to Wales Six pets looking for their forever home from Many Tears Rescue 'Look after yourself' Gwent carers speak out on National Carers Week Speaking about Ashton's condition she said: 'There are a few pictures circulating that are making it look like Ashton is well but he's still being ventilated and still extremely ill. 'He's non communicative and is pretty much unresponsive he's very poorly.' Angela explained the Thai authorities have been carrying out an investigation. Ashston Jones's childhood friend Angela Roden Shepherd (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) 'He's got a good lawyer who speaks brilliant English and is very supportive on our side in bringing justice. 'Nobody has been arrested yet, but they are looking for four people and it looks like they are Thai nationals.' Despite the heartbreaking circumstances Ashton's family find themselves in the family are blown away by the levels of support they've received both locally and internationally. Angela told the Argus: 'It is really important that the people out there release how grateful we are. We've had people in Scotland and Ireland donate and the post is being shared nationally. 'The support has been overwhelming, and Bev (Ashton's grandmother) can't comprehend how these strangers are supporting her grandson.' Ashton Jones who is currently fighting for his life in a Thai hospital (Ashton on ventilation) (Image: Angela Roden Shepherd) The family are still in the dark about why Ashton got separated from his friends. A fundraiser in Cwmbran is being held on July 5, the family are in the process of organising and finalising details. A spokesperson for The Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been hospitalised in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.' Out of the £50,000 goal a staggering £20,522 has been raised to help bring Ashton home.
