Mytime Active stories... Davina

Davina is a 72-year-old who lives in Bromley with her husband Mark. Recently named as Mytime’s member of the month thanks to her truly transformative journey to being more active, we caught up with Davina to hear her extraordinary story…

Struggling with severe health and mobility issues, almost completely unable to walk and often bedbound, Davina Misroch was at her lowest ebb when she finally reached a turning point. “I was worried about what the future held if I didn’t decide to make some significant changes. I had to do something to regain my mobility and improve my quality of life; my spirit was broken, I had almost no sense of purpose left and no joy in my life. I realised I had to dig deep, and it would take all my inner strength and determination,” she recalls.

“Calling on my longstanding love for swimming, I started to make it to The Pavilion Leisure Centre, where I began to swim. The weightlessness of the water made it just about possible once a week, but what I could do was very limited.  I’d have to walk to the edge of the pool using my crutches then leave them with the lifeguard – it was a real effort. It helped a little, but it wasn't enough; I knew I had to do more.”

Having done a similar class in previous years, the Pavilion’s Strength and Stability class, run by Patricia Raphael, seemed the next natural step for Davina – a decision she now credits with changing her life. “I was so nervous when I got there and explained to Patricia ‘I can’t stand up’; I had no faith in my ability to take part. But Patricia wasn’t deterred! In a positive and encouraging yet compassionate tone, she simply said ‘just do whatever you can do’ and I could tell she really meant it. Her wonderful spirit lifted me; there was no judgement, just support,” says Davina. “I went once a week and, within three months, I was standing up in her class doing the exercises. It was astonishing!”

As her stability continued to improve, Davina felt strong enough to try Patricia’s Aqua Fit class, also at the Pavilion. “Slowly, incrementally, I started to do more – my point of focus was consistently Patricia. Under her guidance I started to blossom and people began to see the change in me – everyone was so friendly. I gradually noticed how much better I felt; the difference was enormous. I was physically stronger, I could accomplish tasks and run errands, go to the bank, to the shops… My whole life opened up because of that Strength and Stability class.”

Davina began to attend more often and now visits the Pavilion five or six times a week. “When Mytime Active named me as their member of the month I was gobsmacked and very humbled,” says Davina. “It may seem very small to some people, but it meant a great deal to me. I’d had no idea the team at Mytime Active had been watching me, taking note of my progress and caring how I was doing. I was very touched. The support and inspiration from all the staff at the Pavilion, particularly Patricia, Amanda, Natasha and Harry, provided me with a concrete support mechanism.

“Patricia gave me inspiration, the inner momentum and the conviction that I could do more. As my spirit came back, I felt like I was regaining the will to live. My posture has improved dramatically, my core strength has got so much better and I have my independence again. Mytime Active has given me so much more than physical exercise, it has given me my life back.”