Paul was a plane enthusiast with a job in aviation that took him all over the world.
He knew he was living with pulmonary hypertension, but in 2016 he was told his condition had worsened to the point that he was no longer able to fly.
But his sister Debbie says he was so mentally strong that even though it was a huge blow, he didn’t let it stop him. He enjoyed wonderful UK-based holidays for his boys, who he doted on.
However, his condition was worsening, and last year he collapsed at home.
After three weeks in hospital, doctors told him he had six to 12 months left to live and discharged him to palliative care.
Debbie says: “Paul was adamant he was going to make the most of the time he had left; he wanted to get well enough to live the life he wanted.
“We didn’t expect to lose him in just three weeks.”
During those three weeks, Paul wasn’t able to move without help and needed round-the-clock care, which his family was managing themselves.
“When the Trinity nurses came to the house, it was life changing for all of us,” she added.
“I had become obsessed with the 30 pills he had to take every day. I felt responsible for them – he had to take them to get better. When Karen, the Trinity nurse, came in, she held my hand and told me he didn’t need them now.
“They set up a syringe driver to help him through the pain, and they took all the worry off us. We only had to be there by his side, as family – not as carers.”
After a few days, a bed opened up at Trinity Hospice, and Paul was admitted.
Debbie said: “Immediately he was so settled. It’s strange, but being there made us feel normal again.
“We were all there: me and my daughter and granddaughter, mum and dad, and Paul’s ex-wife and their boys. We were in the Courtyard playing pool and laughing. The nurses brought sandwiches, and we spent time in the garden.
“One thing Paul kept saying was that he didn’t want to die on his own. Thanks to Trinity, he wasn’t.”
