--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a…" description: "\"At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_age_at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-f_390732.jpg" --- # At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation… ![“At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair was no life for him. Yet the time we had together after the operation was something I will always remember. In other words, his quality of life was…” quote by Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_age_at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-f_390732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_age_at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-f_390732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_age_at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-f_390732.jpg) > “At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair was no life for him. Yet the time we had together after the operation was something I will always remember. In other words, his quality of life was misjudged.” [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life quality cannot be judged solely by physical ability; meaningful moments matter more than limitations. **In simple terms:** Life value isn’t just health. Key Takeaway Cherish time with loved ones. Themes family resilience quality of life Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - hospital recovery - family gatherings - end‑of‑life care Key Concepts disability perception meaningful connections Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a loved one’s happiness beyond health? - What biases affect our view of aging? A Different Perspective Assumes all disabilities lead to poor life, which isn’t always true. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-of-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wheelchair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheelchair/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I'm using a cane, so what? So what if they shot me sitting in a wheelchair? That's life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-clark/well-i-m-using-a-cane-so-what-so-what-if-they-shot-me-sitting-in-a/) [Dick Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-clark/) > [One of the things I struggled with growing up was that that I never saw anyone like me on TV or in the newspaper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/one-of-the-things-i-struggled-with-growing-up-was-that-that-i-never/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair life, but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere, finding musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-was-physically-difficult-adjusting-to-wheelchair-life-but-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [As a wheelchair user and a frequent traveller, of course I have my own collection of horror stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/as-a-wheelchair-user-and-a-frequent-traveller-of-course-i-have-my-own/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Carpets are the bane of a wheelchair user's life. One minute you are happily moving in a certain direction; the next, the weave throws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/carpets-are-the-bane-of-a-wheelchair-user-s-life-one-minute-you-are/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Faint hearts are encouraged when they read about others who, despite amputation, spinal cord injury, or psychiatric disorders have a vibrant trust and confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/faint-hearts-are-encouraged-when-they-read-about-others-who-despite/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [“Everybody's amputated in some way or another, Shiloh. We lose loved ones, cut off memories forever, end relationships. Go down paths we can't return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rogers-spinola/everybody-s-amputated-in-some-way-or-another-shiloh-we-lose-loved/) Jennifer Rogers Spinola > [“Jo claimed that the reason people survived breakups was that within days of the amputation, Mother Nature started reminding you of what you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/jo-claimed-that-the-reason-people-survived-breakups-was-that-within/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [To my mind, healing means returning a malfunctioning human body to full unrestricted function, not to remove parts of it by operation or amputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-breuss/to-my-mind-healing-means-returning-a-malfunctioning-human-body-to/) Rudolf Breuss > [“in an interview Butler has stated that the meaning of the amputation is clear enough: “I couldn’t really let her come all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/in-an-interview-butler-has-stated-that-the-meaning-of-the-amputation/) [Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/) > [“It’s like putting a band-aid on an amputation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-anders/it-s-like-putting-a-band-aid-on-an-amputation/) [Natasha Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-anders/) > [The death of a beloved is an amputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-death-of-a-beloved-is-an-amputation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As he defended the book one evening in the early 1980s at the Carnegie Endowment in New York, I knew that some of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-he-defended-the-book-one-evening-in-the-early-1980s-at-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Calf love doesn't usually survive amputation, Your Majesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/calf-love-doesn-t-usually-survive-amputation-your-majesty/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [“Melvin Brands took bread, and the foot, wrapped in camphored cloth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/melvin-brands-took-bread-and-the-foot-wrapped-in-camphored-cloth/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) ## More by Tanni Grey-Thompson > [People come up to me and say 'I wouldn't want to live if I was like you.' And I say 'Actually, my life's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/people-come-up-to-me-and-say-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-if-i-was-like/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Every disabled person's experience is different. As a wheelchair user I can experience something different from someone who is visually impaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/every-disabled-person-s-experience-is-different-as-a-wheelchair-user/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I'm too much of a coward for plastic surgery, but if I could wave a magic wand and change something, it would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-m-too-much-of-a-coward-for-plastic-surgery-but-if-i-could-wave-a/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [When I was competing we were training 15 times a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-was-competing-we-were-training-15-times-a-week/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Twenty years in sport has given me a broad perspective on life, bringing me into contact with a variety of social issues, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/twenty-years-in-sport-has-given-me-a-broad-perspective-on-life/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [When I started, nobody knew what the Paralympics were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-started-nobody-knew-what-the-paralympics-were/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I remember trying to go to the cinema with my friends, so I must have been nine or 10, and being told I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-remember-trying-to-go-to-the-cinema-with-my-friends-so-i-must-have/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Perhaps we need to redefine our idea of role models; they're not always elite athletes whose success might seem too distant or unachievable. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/perhaps-we-need-to-redefine-our-idea-of-role-models-they-re-not/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/wheelchairs-get-lost-or-damaged-during-transit-because-some-staff-don/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [The reality for most athletes is that they have to deal with the wrath of the media only after they have performed, not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-reality-for-most-athletes-is-that-they-have-to-deal-with-the/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I have seen first hand the vital role that the physical activity sector - with its widespread workforce of coaches, youth workers, activity professionals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-have-seen-first-hand-the-vital-role-that-the-physical-activity/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Despite hanging up my racing wheels over a decade ago, I still get a buzz when we enter an Olympic and Paralympic year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/despite-hanging-up-my-racing-wheels-over-a-decade-ago-i-still-get-a/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I've lost track of the amount of time I've been spoken down to, literally patted on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-ve-lost-track-of-the-amount-of-time-i-ve-been-spoken-down-to/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [My father was an architect and I grew up knowing more about planning regulations and the constraints of old buildings than most children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/my-father-was-an-architect-and-i-grew-up-knowing-more-about-planning/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [My political views are left of centre but I think there are a lot of advantages of being a cross-bencher because you can vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/my-political-views-are-left-of-centre-but-i-think-there-are-a-lot-of/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) [Explore all 100 Tanni Grey-Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair was no life for him. Yet the time we had together after the operation was something I will always remember. 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