07/08/2026
Wow! What a nightmare week!
Had to get a flight back from Cape Verde 5 days early as Charlotte’s back problem became a medical emergency! we managed to get a flight home to Manchester on Tuesday.
Following 2 visits to A&E she was transferred to Oswestry for urgent assessment by the spinal team. They gave us a choice of no surgery but if the disc grew 2mm it would prob cause paralysis, loss of urine and bowel permanently. Or surgery with the same risks but additional risks of tearing the spinal cord covering, infection, nerve damage etc. no easy choice either way.
But the night before last the pain was so horrific in her leg she had no choice but do surgery. She was on a cocktail of amitriptyline, gabapentin, codeine, anti inflammatory injections, some new painkiller and morphine every hour and it wasn’t touching the pain. She was also struggling to pass water etc. so fast forward to yesterday and she had surgery. (The herniated disc was 5cm+ and the nerves very bruised and scarred). Thankfully it went very well, she has slept through the night for the first time in a year. She’s got little to no leg pain, obv her back is sore. She will hopefully see physio today and they will get her on her feet (first time in over a week as she hasn’t even been able to sit up).
Then we had so many people in and out of the room yesterday first thing, my phone went missing! Had to wait for Paul to go home to get my iPad to do the find my phone thing. He was able to block it and put a message on it with his number. The hosp coordinator rang him and I got it back late last night. It had obviously been picked up by mistake!
The staff have been absolutely amazing here x
So on her feet today hopefully and home later or over the weekend. Because she hasn’t walked in over a week it may take a little time.
Bloody knackered and exhausted as went straight to PRH on Tues and haven’t been home since as I’ve stayed with her x. It’s been harrowing and scary.
So very proud of her strength and courage when facing one of the biggest decisions of possible life changing consequences. She really is an inspiration and should be so very proud of herself! She has a long road to recovery (3-6 months) but I know her strength and determination will get her back to her old self!
Thank you to the amazing surgeon and his team in Oswestry, to her fabulous dad Paul for supporting Charl, me and Ell through all of this, and of course to Elliott her wonderful fiancé who has been there with Charl every step of the way, going over and above caring for her, he has been incredible!
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Please kindly bear with us whilst we navigate our new normal. We’ll be back soon, lots of love❤️
