When the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital first opened its doors in 1956, one of its very first patients was a six-day-old baby named Peter Fisher.

Born in Cape Town on 20 February 1956, Peter was diagnosed at birth with spina bifida, a congenital condition affecting the spine. At just six days old, he underwent life-saving surgery at the newly opened hospital. It was the beginning of a journey that would include many more operations, but it would never define the life he went on to live.

“The operation was a resounding success,” Peter recalls.

Today, 70 years later, Peter’s story stands as a powerful reminder of what expert paediatric care can make possible.

Growing up, Peter refused to let his disability determine his future. He climbed trees, played like any other young boy and embraced childhood with determination and joy, despite the physical challenges he faced.

“I grew up as a normal child,” he says. “I climbed trees and did all the little things that a normal boy would do, just with a few limitations.”

He attended mainstream schools in both Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, navigating four flights of stairs each day with the help of crutches. Rather than seeing obstacles, Peter saw opportunities.

His perseverance continued into adulthood, where he built a successful 39-year career as a switchboard operator. Along the way, he underwent around 20 additional operations related to his condition, yet his outlook on life never wavered.

“Regardless of my disability and regardless of my first operation, I lived life to the full.”

Looking back, Peter sees his life not through the lens of the surgeries he endured, but through the opportunities he was given because of them.

His message is one of hope.

“To people who feel they have no hope, there is hope. I thank God for the life He has given me, and I am living testimony.”

For Peter, the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital played a profound role in that journey.

“The Red Cross Hospital was simply an instrument in His hands,” he says. “Today I can say amen.”

As the Children’s Hospital Trust celebrates 70 years of supporting the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, stories like Peter’s remind us why this legacy matters. Every child treated within these walls carries with them the possibility of a future filled with purpose, achievement and hope.

Peter closes his message with heartfelt gratitude to the hospital that helped shape his life.

“Thank you for 70 years of service, for your patience, and for caring for me as well. God bless and keep you for the future.”

For one of the hospital’s very first patients, 70 years is more than a milestone. It is a lifetime made possible.