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Carolyne has uffered a serious setback in her quest to get well again
New heartache for Carolyne
by Adam Derbyshire19/ 3/2008
CAROLYNE Underwood has suffered a serious setback to her dream of walking again — after dislocating both her hips.
The 26-year-old has been put in traction at Tameside Hospital for a fortnight after severe muscle spasms tore her joints from their sockets.
Medics who operated say her cartilage and muscle has worn away while in a wheelchair, weakening the hip joint.
Now she must remain perfectly still while the soft tissues knit around the joints to hold them in place.
Carolyne will then be transferred to the spinal unit in Sheffield for further surgery — but has been warned by doctors if all else fails they will have to remove her hip.
The former bar manager, of Hough Hill, Stalybridge said: "It’s a nightmare. I’m flat on my back staring at the ceiling for the next two weeks. My hair has to be washed for me and I can’t even brush my teeth myself.
"I began suffering with sharp pains in my hip last week. I went to the physio for my weekly appointment and she sent me straight to casualty for an X-ray.
"I couldn’t believe it when they said both hips had dislocated and I needed an urgent op. Now I’ve got a brace on both legs and my back to keep me totally still."
Last year Carolyne was told she faced life in a wheelchair after a freak medical condition left her paralysed overnight.
As she slept one night in January, a blood vessel burst in her spinal cord. The bleed cut the signals from her brain, instantly leaving her unable to walk.
Her only hope was pioneering stem cell treatment, which is only available abroad.
The process will involve Carolyne undergoing a series of injections of stem cells taken from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.
It is hoped the intricate procedure will regenerate the damaged nerves and help her reach her goal of walking again.
Donations flooded in as local people rallied to help — but her wish came true at Christmas when a mystery benefactor scribbled a cheque for £24,000 and smashed the target in one fell swoop.
Since then, she has been researching treatment worldwide — and was keen to see if stem cell experts at the Miami Project in Florida could help.
Despite her latest health problems, Carolyne remains determined to one day walk again.
She added: "It’s yet another blow. I‘ve had so many highs and lows over the past year, but I’ll soldier on."
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Very best wishes !!!!
24/03/2008 at 02:22