Report From Antony Martens

I am an old friend of Paul's and am currently in Feldkirch with Penny and Paul. With Penny's permission, I thought I would give you an update for the blog.

As you will have read in Penny's last blog entry, Paul has been moved from the ICU in Feldkirch to the neurological rehabilitation unit in Rankweil (just outside Feldkirch) and Penny is working all hours of the day on the logistics of getting him back to England as quickly as is practical. She is hopeful that this can happen towards the end of next week, but getting it arranged properly and putting all the various doctors, hospitals, transport, etc together is very complex and is using all of Penny's enormous energy and organisational skills.

Time remains on hold for Penny and getting Paul back to England and in the hands of English speaking doctors is the immediate priority. Paul remains stable and there do appear to be some connections / contacts happening although it is impossible to put a timescale on how/when/what things will change. Periodically, Paul will squeeze your hand or move his fingers. His eyes can follow you and there are very small, but discernable head movements (nods) every now and then and he is also yawning - however we all have to remember that Paul has sustained a very severe head injury and this is all about time and the body giving itself a chance to heal and re-establish connections. It is also about peaks and troughs and it is not about every day visible improvements.

Penny has found the transition from ICU to the rehab unit very stressful and rather difficult and the adjustment has taken its toll on her. Today she is fighting off a chest infection; she is on antibiotics and is not best pleased, but she is being sensible and has delegated today's visit to Paul and communication with the doctors to me. I am trying to persuade her (unsuccessfully) to switch off her phone occasionally and try to rest, but, in fairness, Penny needs to be in touch with London and the doctors (and others). She has however not set foot outside the hotel today and I think is feeling a bit better. I must say, Penny is a complete triumph of the human spirit.

Visiting hours in the rehab unit are very different - strictly 3pm to 7pm - it is an open ward and the nurses and doctors are looking after Paul with great care. Penny hasn't had the chance yet to develop the relationship with the doctors there that she so skillfully had at the ICU and the initial change of environment came as a big shock to her. Hopefully tomorrow she will be back to her fighting best and I'm sure will be running the hospital in military style within a couple of days. Paul does know it and he is very lucky to have her.

Best regards, Antony