Carla Horton attempted to do a party trick on her hen do in Skegness, Lincolnshire, but the woman was knocked unconscious, and so paramedics rushed to her aid
A woman’s “silly misjudgement” left her paralysed from the chest down just weeks before her wedding.
Carla Horton eventually married Craig Bolton in a chapel at hospital where she was receiving treatment for spinal cord injuries suffered on her hen do. The 44-year-old woman attempted a party trick while getting ready to go out for the evening, but ended up knocking herself unconscious.
She was rushed to the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, where doctors feared she would never walk again. However, rather than postpone their wedding, they held it in the chapel there instead as “could not wait” potentially two years until Carla is walking confidently again – if ever.
Carla, whose accident happened five weeks before the big day, said: “All I said to Craig was I can’t wait any longer to marry you. I don’t want to wait 18 months or two years until I am possibly walking again, or possibly not. I cannot wait that long. So, we both agreed that we would still do it on Friday, no matter where it was or how it was.”
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An ambulance was called when Carla had her accident on the hen do in Skegness, Lincolnshire. She had fractured her neck and was paralysed from the chest down. When Craig arrived at the Queen’s Medical Centre, he had the “absolute shock of my life” at what he saw.
He made the three-hour-round trip from their home in Dudley, West Midlands, to be with his partner at the hospital every day and, together, they reached the decision to tie the knot in hospital on Friday May 30.
Speaking to Birmingham Live, Carla said: “I made a silly misjudgement on my hen do and tried to do a stunt which I think I was just too old to do, and it resulted in me fracturing the top of my neck and being paralysed from the chest down.
“My first thought when this happened was to say to Craig ‘if you want to walk away you can and I would understand’. I think when something like this happens to someone you don’t want to put them through the possibility that you might never walk again.”
But Craig refused and visited Carla, whom he describes as his “soulmate”, every day for five weeks. Nottingham University Hospitals Charity helped with the arrangements for the pair’s big day, arranging food, decorations, flowers and even a hairdresser for the bride.
Craig said: “When I come in every day and see the fight in her, I do fall in love more each day. You do find your soulmate at some point and when you do, you know. And I’ve found mine.”
His wife is making a steady recovery, which doctors attribute to the “speed of care” she received in the first 20 hours after the accident. Sam Cousens, director of fundraising and communications at Nottingham University Hospitals Charity, said: “Everyone here has been deeply moved by Carla and Craig’s story, and it was a huge privilege to collaborate with colleagues across Nottingham University Hospital, including the dedicated ward staff who go above and beyond, every day of the year.
“As a charity, we were able to bring together our incredible network of supporters and generous local businesses, to help turn a heartbreaking situation into a day filled with love and positivity. We all send our warmest wishes to Carla and Craig on their wedding day.”
Spinal cord injury lead, Michelle Elmsley, said: “It’s been an honour to be part of Carla’s journey. It is a rare opportunity to be part of something special for acute patients under our care, and being able to go ‘beyond the norm’ has made me extremely proud to be part of team NUH.
“The rapid medical and surgical response which Carla received has helped to give her the best chance of recovery. However, spinal cord injuries are very complex and take extensive time to recover.”