Peter Greenwood had almost given up. After months of feeling ill and losing his independence, he couldn’t see a future for himself. What has made him change his mind, is the experience he had at The Prince of Wales Hospice.
For as long as he can remember, Peter Greenwood has loved being active. He was a fireman for many years and enjoyed travelling around the UK with his late wife, Margaret, in their caravan. Together, they shared a love of exploring, discovering new places, and making the most of every moment.
But when Peter started to lose his mobility, everything changed, and he wasn’t sure life was worth living anymore.
His body, once strong and dependable, began to let him down. Fluid build-up in his legs from heart failure and other health problems left him struggling to walk even a few steps. The man who had spent his life rushing to help others, who could never sit still for long, suddenly found himself housebound, dependent on others, and heartbroken by the loss of his independence.
The months that followed were some of the hardest Peter and his family had ever faced. His health declined, and after several hospital stays, Peter was admitted to The Prince of Wales Hospice for end of life care. Feeling weary and tired, he had made up his mind. He stopped taking his medication and told his family he was ready to go. His sons, Kevin and Stuart, had begun to prepare themselves to say goodbye.
But things didn’t go quite as they expected.
One evening, Peter became acutely unwell. A nurse acted quickly, and what was a very frightening moment then became a turning point in Peter’s life. The hopelessness that had weighed him down began to lift. Surrounded by the specialist care and support of the Hospice team, Peter slowly began to feel not just physically stronger, but emotionally different too. Day by day, he ate a little more, moved a little more, and, perhaps most importantly, started to believe in life again.
“The nurses never gave up on me, even when I had. They encouraged me, looked after me, and made me feel like life was still worth living.”
His family couldn’t believe the transformation. Kevin told us, “We all thought Dad was coming to the Hospice to die. But after a few weeks, we couldn’t believe the change in him. It was a real surprise.”
After just a few weeks of care, Peter was well enough to go back home. These days, he has full-time carers who support him, but his independent spirit hasn’t faded. “Sometimes the carers come to make me dinner or tea,” Peter laughs, “but I’ve already made it!”
His family visits every day, and together they enjoy short trips out, precious moments they thought they’d lost. Peter knows his health isn’t perfect, and his legs still let him down now and then, but his outlook and his life have completely changed.
Peter said, “It’s all thanks to the Hospice. The care I had there saved my life. I wouldn’t be here today without them.”
Kevin agrees. “The difference in Dad is amazing. The nurses didn’t just care for him physically, they gave him hope. And they gave us time together we never thought we’d have.”
Now, Peter and his family are busy planning trips and making new memories, something they thought they’d lost the chance to do.
For Peter, the care from the Hospice team didn’t just help him feel better, it made him want to live again.
