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Camden New Journal - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 17 May 2007

Peter at home with his father Guido after the severe asthma attack

Tragic teenager dies while waiting on a wheelchair

Parents pay tribute to UCLH hospital staff for care and support

RELATIVES of a brain-damaged teenager who died last week have told of their heartache at watching him trapped at home as they battled to get him a decent wheelchair.
Peter Cordara, 18, was left unable to talk or move after his brain was starved of oxygen following a severe asthma attack at the age of 14.
Until he was rushed into hospital with pancreatitis earlier this year, his family had been fighting to get him a wheelchair that fits so he could see more than the four walls of his bedroom.
His heartbroken family, who live in Kingsford Street, Gospel Oak, said on Monday: “We are angry Peter had to spend the last four years as a prisoner in his own home. We tried our hardest to get the best for Peter but Camden Primary Care Trust put every obstacle in our way.”
Peter, a devoted follower of Arsenal FC and wrestling, and former pupil of William Ellis School, died last Tuesday after spending the last few months in Intensive Care Unit at UCLH.
For the preceding four years Peter could only leave his house by stretcher for doctors appointments and was otherwise starved of fresh air and outdoor stimulation.
Camden PCT had given him a chair but parents Denise and Guido Cordara said it was unusable and ill-fitting as he would constantly slip out of it.
At the time Camden PCT said there were differing opinions on the suitability of Peter’s chair. He was finally being fitted for a chair the day he fell ill, and died weeks before his birthday.
His aunt Lola Soanes said: “We struggled all the way to get what’s right for Peter. If we’d got his chair we could have done so many things, even if it was just a walk through the park. We could have taken great photos of him. All we have is Peter in his own bed.
“Peter was a loving, caring son and brother. He had a very h ard life. We would talk with Peter and he would blink. When his parents spoke you could see the change in his face. He fought hard to survive, he couldn’t hold on any more.
“Peter was deeply loved and cared for by his family and the nurses that cared for him in his home. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at UCLH for their support and Councillor Roger Robinson for his help.
“Peter was going to be 19 on May 31. We wanted him home for his birthday. He came from a very strong family.”
Peter’s favourite song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, will be played at his funeral at St Peter’s Italian Church, Clerkenwell Road, at 12.15pm on Friday. A mass will be said for him at 7.30pm today (Thursday).
Disability rights campaigner Councillor Roger Robinson said: “I’m so sorry Peter passed away before we had the chance to sort out his chair. It’s a great tragedy when you think of all the years his family had fought.”

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