Breathe 2017

Polio strikes in Kenya

In 1958, Robin Cavendish contracts polio while in Kenya, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a respirator. He is newly married to Diana and, despite his fight to recover, is told he has only about three months to live. The diagnosis sets the stage for a life defined by his mobility and breathing support.

Repatriation to Britain and depression

Robin is repatriated to Britain, where the shock of his condition sinks him into depression. He refuses to see his wife Diana or their newborn son Jonathan and wishes to be removed from life support. Diana remains hopeful and refuses to give up on him.

Diana's care and move home

Diana persists in caring for Robin, and gradually his spirits lift as she takes on daily duties. She begins to imagine a life beyond the hospital walls by bringing the respirator into their home. This period marks the slow shift from resignation to a search for a different future.

Homecoming with respirator and meeting Jonathan

With the hospital's stubborn objections, primarily from Dr Entwistle, Robin is brought home with the respirator. He finally meets his newborn son, Jonathan, in the family’s living room. Diana and a small circle of supporters help make this risky transition possible.

The dog incident and signaling

Soon after, the family dog knocks the ventilator plug loose while Jonathan plays nearby. Unable to move or speak, Robin cannot alert Diana, so he signals by clicking his tongue. Diana discovers him unresponsive and reattaches the ventilator.

Idea for a mobile chair

A spark of innovation comes when Robin watches Jonathan push a pram; he imagines a mobile chair with a built-in respirator. He enlists his friend Teddy Hall to design and build the prototype. The chair promises greater independence for him and others with paralysis.

First travels beyond home

Using the chair and a specially modified van, Robin and his family begin to travel farther from home. Their adventures include transporting the chair by cargo plane to Spain, expanding Robin's world beyond the living room. The family faces practical and emotional challenges as mobility grows.

Teddy improves the design and Aitken collaboration

Teddy Hall makes further improvements to the chair design, widening its usability. Robin teams with Dr Clement Aitken to manufacture more chairs for others, and he returns to his original hospital with many chairs so other patients can leave alongside him. The movement grows from a personal project into a broader social impact.

Advocacy for humane treatment

Moved by a German hospital's prison-like confinement of disabled patients, Robin appears at a conference and urges doctors to treat their patients more humanely. His speech earns a standing ovation and helps spark a shift in attitudes toward disability care. The moment solidifies his dual legacy as inventor and advocate.

Decision to stop prolonging life

Years after his innovations, Robin suffers severe bleeding due to prolonged ventilator use and decides to stop prolonging his life. He discusses the decision with Dr Aitken, who warns that Diana and Jonathan cannot be involved. He prepares for a quiet, chosen goodbye with his family.

Farewell party and a strict routine

Robin hosts a farewell party with friends before stepping away from life support. He then instructs his family to leave and return to the house at precise times, shaping a ritual for his final days. The arrangement underscores his desire to control the end on his own terms.