After a frightening battle with delirium that left him with little memory of eight lost months, Paul Huggins, 60, is making remarkable progress in his recovery journey at Aria Court care home.
He arrived at the home around six months ago following an extended hospital stay, and though his road to recovery hasn’t been easy, Paul is resolute in his goal: to walk out of Aria Court and return to his life – but only when he’s fully ready.
A former forklift driver and builder, Paul has always been a hands-on, hardworking individual. The past two years saw him increasingly reliant on a wheelchair and walker, but now, thanks to regular sessions with a visiting physiotherapist, he’s starting to get up on his feet again.
You’ll often spot him making his way through the corridors of the different communities at Aria Court or getting fresh air in the beautiful gardens.
“I want to be able to walk again and perhaps to work again,” says Paul. “I’m over the moon with the progress I’ve made since coming here – and so are my wife and family. We know there’s a long way to go still, but we’re getting there.”
Until then, he’s immersing himself in life at Aria Court – forming bonds with fellow residents and team members alike. Known for his warm personality, his determination and his friendly banter, Paul is a familiar face around the home, often dropping in on others for a chat.
He’s also an enthusiastic participant in the home’s regular activities. Whether it’s a lively game of bingo, a cooking session making cookies or sausage rolls, or digging into the gardening, Paul gives it his all.
He’s a proud and valued member of Aria Court’s Happy Potters gardening club, helping to create hanging baskets and planting flowerbeds around the home as well as helping to create a water feature – activities that remind him of his own garden at home, where he grew onions and tomatoes destined for pickles and pasta sauces made at the end of the season by his wife.
“I want to be me again, and I can feel I am slowly coming back,” he says. While Paul has little memory of his time in hospital, his wife has kept a journal of those difficult days.
“The carers here have helped me more than I can say – and I won’t forget the support they’ve given me every step of the way, even on the more difficult days, and I know I can be difficult sometimes.”
Paul has always looked out for others. In the past, he worked security at concerts and festivals – including the Norfolk Show and Sundown Festival – where his love for music, everything from rock and 80s hits to classical tunes, was right at home.
With his strength, determination, and the support of his family and the Aria Court team, there’s no doubt that Paul is on his way to walking out into a full and fulfilling life once again.
