This Christmas, Robert Palmer’s family will be honouring his memory and the care he received from Birmingham Hospice.
The 72-year-old, affectionately called Bob, was a caring man from Rednal who had shown determination to overcome several health problems. A diabetic, he suffered a heart attack in 2003 and had a quadruple heart bypass; he then learned to walk and talk again following a stroke in 2005.
Following a groundbreaking operation in November 2023 to improve the blood flow in his right leg, he had been enjoying a new lease of life when he was struck by a silent heart attack on Friday 21 June.
Despite a successful operation, Robert experienced a difficult recovery, suffering disorientation and an inflated bladder, and was given antibiotics to treat an infection.
It was a distressing time for wife Denise and daughter Corina Ravencroft, who were told that Robert needed end of life care. But they jumped at the chance of him being cared for by Birmingham Hospice.
Robert was admitted on Thursday 18 July and made comfortable by IPU staff.
“As soon as I walked through the hospice door, they were all so lovely and welcoming,” said Denise.
“While they settled Robert, they showed me around the hospice, and I just felt very at peace and calm.
“It was like a magic wand had taken all the stress from me; it was such a lovely heartwarming feeling.
“Although I knew I was going to lose him, it felt peaceful. That’s one of the things the staff do so well at the hospice; they welcome and put you at ease.”
Nurses cared and talked to Robert, ensured he was clean shaven and was wearing his favourite aftershave.
They also looked after Denise and Corina, who had barely left his side during the stressful time at the hospital.
Denise said: “Staff asked how I was, which really stood out – they actually care about you.
“When we first arrived, they asked me if I had eaten and got me a hot meal, which was very much needed. They settled Robert but then looked after me as well and it meant so much.”
Denise and Corina are looking ahead to their first Christmas without Robert.
“Our biggest tradition as a family was going to Carols on the Green in Bournville every Christmas Eve,” Corina said.
“Dad’s favourite song was ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, and he’d get increasingly loud at the ‘oh come let us adore him’ part, which was always funny.”
Other much-loved yuletide traditions included watching the latest pantomime at Birmingham Hippodrome, while Robert loved to go to the German Market try the garlic bread.
Corina added: “Dad absolutely loved Christmas, so it will to be a hard not to him with us, but we’re going to remember him by taking part in Birmingham Hospice’s Light up a Life.”
Denise and Corina will be dedicating a star to Robert at our Light up a Life event in December.
Christmas is a particularly difficult time for people who have lost cherished members of their family, but Light up a Life allows them to come together to celebrate and remember those they love while supporting the hospice.
Light up a Life takes place on Monday, December 2 and 9 at our hospice in Selly Park and the Harvest Fields Centre in Sutton Coldfield.
