A further update on Carolyn…..
Carolyn has been in the rehab ward for over a week and the treatment she has received there has made a noticeable difference. She is making good and regular steps forward and Howard reports daily progress. In fact, Carolyn has really impressed the physiotherapist as she was able to stand for the first time yesterday, exceeding expectations!
Carolyn is now spending most of the day out of the bed in her chair and Howard and her family have been wheeling her around the hospital and its grounds. The hospital staff are even planning to take her on an outing to a local pub on Friday lunchtime! Howard has completed his “chair training” and is hoping to be able to take her out for the occasional meal soon.
As well as her regular individual treatment, she’s attending group classes and social activities, such as crafts classes, which the hospital organises. Carolyn enjoys the group activities and is, not surprisingly for those know Carolyn, busy trying to help everyone else!
There is still no news on how long it will be before Carolyn can come home and despite her recent improvements she is still likely to be in hospital for many weeks. The best way to help Carolyn at the moment is to keep sending her our news, photos and well wishes. The easiest way to get anything to Carolyn is to put it through her letter box, post comments here, or email the website and we will forward to Howard.
In terms of visiting, the hospital staff have said that friends can start visiting but this needs to be introduced slowly over the next few weeks and incorporated into her family’s visits. There is a difficulty in than that visiting hours are pretty restricted (only 4 hours a day – 2-4pm and 6-8pm) and Carolyn is limited to two visitors at a time. So, for now, we can’t just call into the hospital; visits need to be planned and pre-arranged and we will have to be patient and respect Howard and her family’s needs.
Once again Howard would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support, letters, cards, presents and photos. Carolyn really looks forward to receiving these and looking through them and they are really helping her recovery.
There will be further updates………
PARWICH.ORG 
If any of you did not get time to leave a message for Carolyn on the dictaphone when it was in the pub, I now have it. Please feel free to give me a ring (344)and you can either pop round and record it here or I’ll drop it in to you. Don’t forget the more of us she can hear from the better!
A message from Stuart to say how much Tom has appreciated Carolyn’s support in the past, and that she might like to watch his interview on the Paul O’Grady Show on Friday at 5pm (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/holbycity/news/)
Carolyn – Stella sales in the pub have fallen through the floor….. we (and those nice people at Stella Artois) need you back soon please!
Photos for Carolyn are continuing to come in and we will continue to forward them to Howard. Thank you to everyone.