seasons. She arrived in Holby during her spring. Taking over the ED was her summer. And in autumn she began to disintegrate after she lost Grace. Alfred’s arrival marks her winter of despair." Grace returned to Casualty in Hearts and Flowers and Connie fought to make Grace stay with her. Grace discovers that Connie is in a relationship with Jacob Masters which results in conflict between Connie and Jacob. When new consultant Elle Gardner joins, Connie discovers that she grew up with Jacob, making her feel intimidated. In Sticks and Stones Connie's car crashed into a ravine, leaving Connie and Grace seriously injured. In 2017 Connie experienced chest pains and breathlessness. She sought private medical investigation which found a left-atrial leiomyosarcoma. Connie kept her cancer diagnosis secret from everyone except Ethan Hardy, who at one stage had to perform an emergency embolectomy when an embolus thrown off from the tumour blocked the blood flow to her right arm. Her continual refusal of treatment and attempts to hide her condition began to negatively impact her work, raising suspicions amongst other staff members. Ethan persuaded Connie to begin chemotherapy, which led to her losing her hair. Connie insisted on coming into work even when the chemotherapy left her immunosuppressed. Eventually, an infection acquired at work led to her collapsing in resus (where Ethan was forced to explain her condition to all the staff members). After self-discharging from HDU, Connie insisted Ethan drive her to London for surgery and, despite her health seriously deteriorating, her life was saved. Reception Discussing public reception of her character, Mealing states that: "The response has been amazing - from men, women and children. I'm often stopped out shopping or dining etc. and told 'You're so mean to (whoever).. but we love you!' I think there's a little in all of us that would like to say what we really feel, the way Connie does". Mealing has received several award nominations for the role; ranking seventh 'Best Actress' in the 2004 BBC Drama Awards, being nominated 'Best Actress' in the 2005 TV Quick Awards, and 'Best Newcomer' in the 2005 National TV Awards. The storyline which saw Connie's infant daughter Grace injured after falling downstairs was received critically by The Guardian Sarah Dempster, who summarised: "Four years after she first dazzled viewers with her ability to smirk at current hospital expenditure figures while simultaneously patronising sobbing cardio patients,