[English] - [Cymraeg]

A lasting power of attorney, also known as an LPA, is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions A Lasting Power of Attorney (also known as an LPA) is a legal document. It allows you to nominate someone you trust to step in and make decisions about your health and welfare and property and finance if you lack mental capacity to do so.

Natasha is 45 years old, from Birmingham, and lives with Lupus. Natasha made her LPA to ensure that, whatever the future holds, the people she loves most are empowered to speak up for her if she ever needs them to.

Why I decided to get an LPA

Life has a way of reminding you that you can't predict what's around the corner. For me, that reminder comes in the form of Lupus.

I've been relatively lucky with my symptoms; fatigue, joint pain, brain fog and nerve damage are things I manage day to day. But Lupus is unpredictable, and there's always the possibility that things could change. My organs could become affected. I could reach a point where I'm unable to speak for myself or make decisions about my own care. That's not something I dwell on, but it is something I've had to face honestly.

Getting an LPA felt like the responsible thing to do. Not because I'm expecting the worst, but because none of us really know what to expect from life. My condition just made that truth a little harder to ignore. Having an LPA in place gives me real peace of mind and the knowledge that, whatever happens, there are people I trust who are legally empowered to act in my best interests.

I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the process was. There's a guide to help you complete it and a checklist at the end to make sure you haven't missed anything. I'd genuinely encourage anyone who has been putting it off to just give it a go.

The people I've chosen

My husband and I have been together for 23 years, so I think it's fair to say he knows me pretty well by now! He has always been incredibly supportive, and that means everything when you're choosing someone to act on your behalf. I know he has my best interests at heart; he always has.

We got together six years before he proposed to me on a beach. He'd written it in the sand and called me over to take a look. I remember standing there trying to decipher the words while he was shaking beside me – I'm not sure what he was so nervous about, given I was six months pregnant with our first son at the time! He's been my person ever since, and I can't think of anyone I'd trust more.

My twin sister is my replacement attorney, and ours is one of those close bonds that's hard to put into words. She knows me inside out. Knowing she's there as a back-up if my husband is ever unable to act means I feel completely covered.

As my sister put it herself: "I'm a replacement attorney for my sister should her husband not be able to act, and I feel honoured that she trusts me with that kind of responsibility. I know she'd do the same for me."

My message to you

Living with a long-term condition has taught me not to take anything for granted. None of us know what life has in store, and that uncertainty doesn't have to be frightening – but it does mean it's worth planning for. Getting an LPA is one of the most practical and loving things you can do, both for yourself and for the people who care about you.

Natasha is one of the many people across England and Wales who has made an LPA. It's never too early to talk about lasting powers of attorney with someone you trust.

Start a conversation today. Find out more at https://powerofattorney.campaign.gov.uk/

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[English] - [Cymraeg]

Straeon Atwrneiaeth: Natasha

Mae Atwrneiaeth Arhosol (sydd hefyd yn cael ei galw’n LPA) yn ddogfen gyfreithiol. Mae’n eich galluogi i enwebu rhywun rydych chi’n ymddiried ynddo i gamu i mewn a gwneud penderfyniadau am eich iechyd a’ch lles, eich eiddo a’ch materion ariannol, os nad oes gennych chi’r galluedd meddyliol i wneud hynny.

Mae Natasha, sy’n 45 oed o Birmingham, yn byw gyda Lupus. Gwnaeth Natasha ei hatwrneiaeth arhosol i sicrhau bod y bobl y mae’n eu caru fwyaf, beth bynnag a ddaw yn y dyfodol, yn cael eu grymuso i siarad ar ei rhan os bydd angen iddyn nhw wneud hynny rywbryd.

Pam y penderfynais gael atwrneiaeth arhosol

Mae gan fywyd ffordd o’ch atgoffa na allwch chi ragweld beth sydd ar y gorwel. I mi, Lupus oedd hynny.

Rydw i wedi bod yn gymharol lwcus gyda fy symptomau; mae blinder, poen yn y cymalau, meddwl pŵl a niwed i’r nerfau yn bethau rydw i’n eu rheoli o ddydd i ddydd. Ond does dim modd rhagweld Lupus, ac mae posibilrwydd bob amser y gallai pethau newid. Gallai effeithio ar fy organau. Mae’n bosibl y bydda i’n cyrraedd pwynt lle nad ydw i’n gallu siarad drosof fy hun na gwneud penderfyniadau am fy ngofal fy hun. Dydy hynny ddim yn rhywbeth rydw i’n poeni amdano, ond mae’n rhywbeth rydw i wedi gorfod ei wynebu yn onest.

Roedd cael atwrneiaeth arhosol yn teimlo fel y peth cyfrifol i’w wneud. Nid oherwydd fy mod i’n disgwyl y gwaethaf, ond oherwydd nad oes yr un ohonom ni wir yn gwybod beth i’w ddisgwyl mewn bywyd. Roedd fy nghyflwr wedi ei gwneud hi’n anoddach cuddio rhag y gwir. Mae cael atwrneiaeth arhosol mewn grym yn rhoi tawelwch meddwl go iawn i mi, ac rydw i’n gwybod bod grym cyfreithiol gan bobl rydw i’n ymddiried ynddyn nhw i weithredu er fy lles gorau.

Cefais fy synnu ar yr ochr orau gan ba mor syml oedd y broses. Mae canllaw i’ch helpu chi i’w lenwi a rhestr wirio ar y diwedd i wneud yn siŵr nad ydych chi wedi methu unrhyw beth. Byddwn wir yn annog unrhyw un sydd wedi bod yn gohirio i roi cynnig arni.

Y bobl rydw i wedi’u dewis

Mae fy ngŵr a minnau wedi bod gyda’n gilydd ers 23 mlynedd, felly mae’n deg dweud ei fod yn fy adnabod i’n eithaf da erbyn hyn! Mae bob amser wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn, ac mae hynny’n golygu popeth pan fyddwch chi’n dewis rhywun i weithredu ar eich rhan. Rydw i’n gwybod bod fy lles gorau i’n bwysig iddo, mae’n bwysig iddo bob amser.

Dechreuon ni weld ein gilydd chwe blynedd cyn iddo ofyn i mi ei briodi ar draeth. Roedd wedi ysgrifennu’r neges yn y tywod ac wedi fy ngalw draw i gael golwg. Rydw i’n cofio sefyll yno’n ceisio dehongli’r geiriau tra’r oedd o’n crynu wrth fy ymyl – dydw i ddim yn siŵr pan oedd o’n nerfus, o ystyried mod i’n feichiog ers chwe mis gyda’n mab cyntaf ar y pryd! Ef ydy’r person i mi byth ers hynny, ac alla i ddim meddwl am neb i ymddiried mwy ynddo.

Fy ngefeilles ydy fy atwrnai wrth gefn, ac mae gennym ni gysylltiad agos iawn nad oes modd ei gyfleu mewn geiriau. Mae hi’n gwybod popeth amdana’ i. Mae gwybod ei bod hi wrth gefn os na fyddai fy ngŵr yn gallu gweithredu yn gwneud i mi deimlo bod popeth yn ei le.

Fel dywedodd fy chwaer: “Atwrnai wrth gefn ar ran fy chwaer ydw i, pe na bai ei gŵr yn gallu gweithredu, ac rydw i’n teimlo’n freintiedig ei bod hi’n rhoi’r cyfrifoldeb yma i mi. Rydw i’n gwybod y byddai hi'n gwneud yr un peth i mi."

Fy neges i chi

Mae byw gyda chyflwr hirdymor wedi fy nysgu i beidio â chymryd unrhyw beth yn ganiataol. Does neb yn gwybod beth sydd gan fywyd i’w gynnig, a does dim rhaid i’r ansicrwydd hwnnw fod yn frawychus – ond mae’n golygu ei bod hi’n werth cynllunio ymlaen llaw. Cael atwrneiaeth arhosol ydy un o’r pethau mwyaf ymarferol a chariadus y gallwch chi ei wneud, i chi eich hun ac i’r bobl sydd â llawer o feddwl ohonoch chi.

Mae Natasha yn un o’r llu o bobl ledled Cymru a Lloegr sydd wedi gwneud atwrneiaeth arhosol. Dydy hi byth yn rhy gynnar i siarad am atwrneiaeth arhosol gyda rhywun rydych chi’n ymddiried ynddo.

Dechreuwch sgwrs heddiw. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael yn https://powerofattorney.campaign.gov.uk/