An infant school teacher who was on the brink of death has vowed to raise money for the hospital which saved her life.
Bally Sarai, from Hamilton, took a few tentative steps to deliver a heap of hampers to patients and staff at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital on Christmas Day - the start of her campaign.
She is learning to walk again after four months in hospital and there were times when doctors warned she might not pull through.
The 48-year-old's life changed forever at the end of June when she began to feel feverish.
Within three days she was seriously ill. When she arrived at the urgent care centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary her blood pressure was dangerously low.
Bally, who is married with two children, said: "I was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
"My left lung had collapsed and the right was on the verge of collapse and I was transferred to Glenfield Hospital.
"About two days later doctors said they were going to have put me into an induced coma for two weeks - it turned out to be eight weeks.
"I was devastated because I didn't want to miss my son's graduation in London but doctors said they couldn't even wait until my family arrived.
"I just remember taking all my rings and jewellery off and being put to sleep."
While in the coma Bally was given specialist Ecmo - extra corporeal membrane oxygenation - treatment and, while her family kept a bedside vigil, she also had to have two major operations to stop bleeding in her stomach.
Bally said: "Doctors thought I wasn't going to make it - they gave me less than a five per cent chance of surviving.
"It was only after I came round and in the following weeks that I began to realise how poorly I had been.
"Doctors told they didn't know how I had managed to pull through."
Bally was finally discharged, on October 2, after 110 days in hospital.
While she has recovered from the pneumonia she is having to learn to walk again.
Bally said: "I couldn't even pick up a spoon at first but now I can wash and shower myself and walk a little round the house.
"The whole thing has completely changed my life and outlook.
"You don't know what is around the corner. People should appreciate everything they have and hold on to it."
Bally, whose husband Kulvinder and her family was constantly at her side, has now pledged to spend the next year raising money for the Ecmo team.
She said: "I am extremely grateful to all the staff at Glenfield Hospital for their amazing care.
"They saved my life. Everything was there for me and I want to make sure it is there for other people."
Bally will spend the next year fund raising for Leicester Hospitals' Charity.
She launched it by presenting hampers to staff and patients at Glenfield Hospital as well as by setting up an online donation page which has already raised more than £1,000.
Bally said: "I just want to say thank you. Events being planned include a summer picnic event, cake sales and I am planning to walk a mile, which will be a real milestone for me."
To support Bally go to www.justgiving.com/BallySarai/
