Ada Daniel, a vibrant 108-year-old woman, believes her longevity is attributed to the joy and companionship of dogs rather than raising children.
She playfully credits her beloved canines as the key to her long life, often joking, “A little dog a day keeps the doctor away.”
A Birthday to Remember
Living at Codnor Park Care Home in Codnor, Derbyshire, since 2015, Ada recently celebrated her milestone birthday. As her special day approached, the care home decided to organize a card appeal, which resulted in an overwhelming response of nearly 300 cards from well-wishers.
What a beloved lady!
During her intimate birthday celebration, the staff surprised Ada with the cards, along with afternoon tea and balloons donated by kind-hearted supporters.
Kelly Goucher, the activity coordinator at Ashmere, which manages the home, shared with the BBC: “Ada doesn’t have many family members left. She never had kids, so there are no grandchildren.
We wanted to shower her with as many cards as possible.”
Community Outpouring of Love
Kelly was amazed at the outpouring of love when she announced the card appeal on a local Facebook page.
“The next morning, I woke up to 135 messages from people eager to send their best wishes,” she exclaimed.
The care home had organized a similar initiative for Ada’s 105th birthday, which coincided with the lockdown, receiving over 200 cards at that time. Kelly noted, “While Ada didn’t have children, she was a loving mother to many four-legged companions during her life. She had numerous small dogs.”
Kelly continued, “She’s certainly a remarkable character. Once, I asked her for her secret to a long life, and she responded, ‘It’s all about having dogs, not kids.’ Amen to that!”
In an interview with the Derbyshire Times, Kelly shared, “Ada has been talking about her birthday since April, eagerly counting down the days. We kept the card appeal a secret from her, and the volume of responses was just astonishing.” Additionally, generous donations poured in, including banners adorned with Ada’s picture and balloons featuring her name.
It’s a beautiful reminder of the love and joy that dogs bring into our lives, creating bonds that last a lifetime.