No improvement in Dick Fletcher's condition

St. Petersburg, Florida - Our good friend, Tampa Bay's 10 News Chief Meteorologist Dick Fletcher, is still in the hospital, but his condition has not improved.

Last Monday, Dick suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. He has been receiving treatment, but has not recovered. Dick remains in the hospital right now, with his wife, Cindy and his family at his side.

Doctors and nurses are making Dick comfortable. Dick's family is getting comfort from all of you with the thousands of cards, letters, e-mails and comments that are pouring in.

As Dick's fans found out about his stroke last week, they immediately reached out. Within one hour of posting the story about Fletch on our website, more than 50 people commented with kind words.

Now, as people comment around the clock, the website has more than 1,000 comments and we've received more than 1,000 e-mails. Get well cards are also rolling in — stacks and stacks of them.

All of your cards, e-mails and comments are being passed on to Cindy Fletcher and the Fletcher family. They say these comments have really helped them through this very difficult time.

Many of you are sharing some very touching stories and memories of Dick Fletcher.

Debbie Moon, from Spring Hill writes:

"I remember when I was younger, I was always afraid of the rain and especially driving in it. I would be all dressed up to go out and if Fletch said that it could possibly rain or was going to rain, I stayed home. I trusted him very much. I miss him. God bless him and his loved ones through this trying time.

"We have also e-mailed back and forth about the actual temperature and the feels like temperature. He always told me to put the thermometer under a shade tree to get the true reading and not the 'feels like' temperature.

"He has been with our family through many years here in the Tampa Bay area. I remember when Hurricane Elena was teasing us on the west coast of Florida, he had a long white dress shirt on and rolled up his sleeves and said 'It looks like its coming our way, folks.' He stayed with us until it was all clear and safe again. Thank goodness it didn't hit us head-on. So we were able to keep him with us through that whole terrible time."

People who worked with Fletch are sending in their well-wishes. Dennis Feltgen, from the National Hurricane Center, writes:

"I had the pleasure to work side by side with you during my ten year tenure at Tampa Bay's 10 as a meteorologist and reporter. I found you to be the consummate professional. Through the four ownership changes and even more management changes we experienced during that time, you never forgot that your first obligation was to your viewers, everything else being secondary. Few in broadcasting today can make that claim.

"On behalf of myself and the National Hurricane Center, you are in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery."

We're also hearing from lots of people who have depended on Fletch to make some big decisions over the years. Sarah Snyder, from the Pinellas County Coalition of Homeless Volunteers writes:

"I am writing on behalf of the Board and volunteers of the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless to express our sadness about Dick Fletcher's recent stroke. Dick has been our official source for deciding when or whether to open homeless Cold Night Shelters in Pinellas County for many years, and his forecasts have always been accurate for us. His helpfulness, professionalism, and sincere desires to help us have been a real delight."

All the phone calls to our newsroom have also been very touching. Your care and concern really means a lot to all of us here at Tampa Bay's 10. It is a difficult time.

Please keep the calls, e-mails, comments and cards coming.

You can comment below or e-mail us at 10news@tampabays10.com. We will print out every comment and take them to the Fletcher family.

For cards, send them Tampa Bay's 10 and we will pass them on. Our address is:

11450 Gandy Blvd
St. Petersburg, Florida 33702

As we get more information about Dick's condition, we will pass it on to you. Please keep checking back here for updates.