Penny's Update from London

As I mentioned in my last blog entry on Tuesday, I have returned to London. Encouraged by Keith Falconer, it was the best decision I made to get back to our London base and regroup emotionally and physically. I have had a horrid bout of bronchitis, all no doubt brought on by the situation I find myself in.

I have spent the last few days reflecting on what is best for Paul. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to agree with our private health carrier and how they would cover Paul’s care in the UK on his return, and so I feel it best that we see Paul continue to benefit from the wonderful care he is receiving in Austria. I have regrouped in going forward for Paul's ongoing care. I have now been able to think very clearly. In doing so, I would urge anyone reading this to consider your existing insurance coverage. There are, I understand other forms of insurance that would cover neurological/stroke conditions where private medical may not. I urge all of those who are the bread winners, review and afford it.

On a brighter note, the hospital in Rankweil, and in particular, the ward on which Paul is on, is a specialist high dependency neurological unit, I have realised we are incredibly fortunate as a family to have this facility and care for Paul. I was fortunate to have a brief ten minute chat with Dr Eiler on Tuesday morning before I left. Having met face to face, we now have a much better dialogue and understanding. This is a good thing. These high powered Austrian doctors are very gracious and kind.

I had a very good conversation with Dr Eiler yesterday morning on the phone. He is more than happy to carry on Paul's ongoing care. As doctors, their interest and priority is what is best for the patient. The neurosurgeons are based in Feldkirch whilst Rankweil is their sister unit managing the neurological care. He and I were both able to agree that it was in Paul's best interest to remain in Austria currently.

Having kept the piece of skull they original removed in Paul's emergency surgery in February, it makes sense for this be replaced when the time is right by the team of neurosurgeons who performed the original surgery. We are looking at a time factor of 8-10 weeks. Like all these things, this can change. Then there is the recovery process from that surgery.

Though I was very disappointed that it is not be possible to see Paul return this week, I now realise, helped by others closely involved in my journey, that it is a very good thing that Paul is staying where he is. The stronger and more stable he is before he returns to this country the better.

Having made these decisions, I am feeling a lot more confident and comforted in this very uncharted, new journey that I am travelling along. With the support of the Austrian doctors and Hiscox's, who will undertake the medical repatriation part of this, and who, I have to say, have and are being tremendous in their liaison and hard work, THIS IS WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES.

In all of this, I have learnt that the art of communication and bringing people with one is the key ingredient.

On a more personal note, William and I are heading up to Mull on Friday 3rd for the remainder of the Easter holidays. Charlotte returns to London from Canada on the 2nd April. She will head out to Geneva early next week and meet up with her Uncle Mark and Auntie Catherine (Hilton) who have a chalet in France, and with then they will go over to Austria and Charlotte can see her Dad. Fortunately Charlotte, just 19, is at an age and stage where she is very independent, and we are very blessed to have such a mature and level headed daughter. I am proud of her.

Will is doing extremely well and has managed his school life with great strength. I am very proud of him too. He is getting very organised for his GCSE revision programme over the holidays, and he is very keen to be up at our home on Mull, get on with his revision, and help Carl and Lisa where he can on the ongoing projects and the normal things that are all part and parcel of running a property such as The White House. There is always something to be done. We will spend Easter on Mull and I am sure Charlotte will join us once she has had her fill of catching up with friends in London. We are very fortunate to have this home in London that we have had for years.

There are various friends who, since Monday, have contacted me and wishing to go out to Austria to see Paul. Thank you to all those who can, this means a huge amount. William fforde drove over from Tuscany on Wednesday and visited Paul yesterday and called me with an encouraging description of his visit. Paul has continued to respond to those who spend time with him. William Forsyth from Edinburgh is flying out at the crack of dawn today to be with his long standing friend until Monday. I know one or two of you who are on skiing holidays are going to try, when you can, make a visit. Thank you. There are other trips planned by various friends too.

I could not do all of the above without the selfless and huge support from not only my blood family but Paul's brother Mark and his precious wife, Catherine, my sister in law. They are carrying a huge load in all of this, there are no words to describe my appreciation to them both. Charles McGregor, my brother in law, is a tower of strength and is giving me ongoing support in all our family affairs. All Paul’s many friends, and his business colleagues and all our wonderful Isle of Mull friends and supporters, I thank you for your support, prayers and love. It means a huge amount.

There will be blog updates over the Easter holidays, I will get feedback from the doctors and from the visits of family and friends. My plan as it stands, is to return Will to Harrow on the 19th April and then head out with Charlotte to Austria on Tuesday 21st April. I even made a booking at the Alpenrose before I left on Monday. I looked at Klaudia and Clement and just said, 'I feel it in my bones, I know I will be coming back, book me in for the 21 April'. How right I was.

PENNY XXXX - March 26, London

A Prayer For The End of Our Day

Several weeks ago I attended a very moving Service. One of the prayers offered up during the Service was said by the Rev. Prebendary Dr. Peter Elvy. Peter was our Vicar at Chelsea Old Church. Peter retired, some three years ago, from the Old Church, where Penny and Paul were married. He kindly has consented to the inclusion of this prayer in our Blog.

In quiet contemplation, and as the night draws in, we all reflect on Paul, Penny, Charlotte and William and we offer up our prayer to God for Paul’s continued recovery. In these moments and with our other several thoughts, we also continue to give special thanks to those who have looked after, and who continue to care for Paul so well, in hospital in Austria. My hope is that perhaps the prayer below may strike a chord with those who share this site, as it has for me, as our day draws to its eventual close.

And so we pray:

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy work is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done – then Lord in thy mercy grant us safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last – through Jesus Christ our Lord.


As ever, Charles

Penny's Update - March 24

As I had mentioned this week, the plan was to return Paul to London by the end of this week. This is now not happening, and I cannot go into the details other than private medical insurance and neurological injuries have strict limitations and criteria. We have to bring Paul back into London through the NHS.

I have managed to put myself back together in under 24 hours after what I can only describe has been a massive disappointment and blow for me and our children.

The good things are that Paul is currently is in a neurological rehabilitation hospital out here in Rankweil. They are closely linked into the main Feldkirch hospital where Paul spent 4 weeks in ICU. He is being beautifully cared for medically and I cannot fault what they are doing. The initial step down from ICU to a High Dependency Neurological open ward was difficult for me to digest. This is a very new world for me, and I am having to learn fast.

So this is where we are today. I met Dr. Eiler briefly, who is overseeing his care. He was kind and reassuring to me. We can speak every day on the phone. The liaison between the London and Austrian hospital will now start for his repatriation. Fortunately, that is not my job to oversee. There are various medical reasons currently for keeping Paul here in Austria for the time being, due to a piece of his skull they removed in the emergency cranial surgery to save his life, and can be replaced here, when the time is ready. This to me makes alot of sense, and as Dr Eiler said to me this morning, London and Austria are all part of the EU (i.e Gordon Brown).

I have had to take a very very deep breath since yesterday afternoon and move forward. My priority is to get back to London tonight, get myself better, and be back in London for when William comes home on Monday from his D of E Silver and we get on with his Easter holidays. Charlotte is back on Wednesday.

Paul is getting 24 hour care. I am not. I told Dr Eiler I didn't need to end up in the next door bed to my husband! I need to look after myself and be there for Will and Charlotte.

The best for Paul, currently, is to keep him here in Austria. I cannot dictate the time. It is up to the doctors between London and Austria to decide.

I have not been able to see Paul for a week, but I was able to see him through the glass windows today. Dr. Eiler is pleased with his progress. This is a painstakingly slow process and again it is all about time.

I have been very blessed to have Antony Martens, Carrie Pryor and Keith Falconer, all in succession over the past 10 days and they have been able to visit Paul, talk with the doctors and are encouraged by not only the care Paul is receiving, but the very small steps of progress.

This message comes with my deepest thanks for the ongoing love, prayers and messages of support that continue to flow in.

PENNY XXXX

Carrie Pryor's Visit 20th - 22nd March

I arrived on Friday and have seen Paul for three afternoons. His bed is situated by a large window so he is showered in natural light and sunshine. There are photographs of Charlotte, Will and the Isle of Mull on the wall. There are signs of progress, but these are painstakingly slow and small. Paul is able to follow you with his eyes, squeeze his left hand in response to questions (not always), and when asked 'did he love Penny', I got a big squeeze.

On day two, the cute young blond nurse innocently asked 'was I Paul's Mother', which made me laugh and I am sure Paul would have done the same had he been able. Penny tells me that his brother, Mark, was asked whether he was Paul's Father on Monday. He was not quite so amused.

I have met the weekday and Saturday doctors and both were very caring, intelligent and competent individuals. Paul also has a team of excellent nurses, both male and female, including one who has trouble in distinguishing ages evidently! Tonight the head nurse said that they are pleased with his progress.

You also may be interested to know that Feldkirch is a beautiful medieval town and the Hotel Alpenrose couldn't be more charming. It is owned by a sister-brother team, Claudia and Clement, both in their 20's. The food is excellent and the rooms have been all be modernized. The town is well worth a visit as there are very pretty shops and restaurants and tonight we are going to check out an Italian restaurant as the hotel chef is off duty.

The town is surrounded by 1000's of meters of small mountains, but in the distance are classic snow capped alps which inspire an American visitor!

Keith arrived from France today and he and I went to see Paul together. Keith proceeded to tease Paul about events we don't wish to know the details, on Mull, in Buenos Aires, at The Salen Inn and others. Paul tried to smile, i.e. his muscles tensed and moved.

Penny has been remarkable during my time here, she is on her second course of antibiotics for a nasty upper respiratory infection; this hasn't stopped her from waking me up at 0900 hrs and telling me to get downstairs for breakfast! She then proceeded to critique my buffet plate wondering how I could eat cheese, fruit and salami, all on the same plate. She insists on a proper cooked English breakfast, not on the menu, which the chef personally delivers, quaking, to the table. In the meantime, Penny has been accused of being the Manager. She has a skill of 'obtaining' linen table napkins when we are supposed to be using paper ones for breakfast. She has also managed to ban smoking this week, both behind the bar and in the bar (the staff smoke behind the bar) when she is in the room, as this makes her cough.

Despite our efforts to be in good humour, Penny has not been able to visit Paul since Tuesday. Each day she waits to see how she feels, but her infection is still too contagious to visit a high dependency unit. I admire her ability to stay back at the hotel, which must be very trying for her under the circumstances. Each time I arrive back from the hospital, she is waiting for the details of my visit.

I am leaving 0415am tomorrow because the only direct flight to New York on American Airways is at 0900am from Zurich. The train departs Feldkirch at 0445am. I plan to hold this over Paul Hilton's head forever.

With love, CARRIE PRYOR