A Lanarkshire woman was given 24 hours to live after collapsing led to a shock cancer diagnosis.
Rhonda Martin's 'organs shut down' when she passed out at her home in Wishaw in July 2019. Luckily her friend, Polash Shajahan, burst into the house and rushed her to hospital.
Medics feared she had 24 hours to live as she endured numerous seizures. The retiree ended up in a coma for 42 days and later diagnosed with cancer.
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Thankfully she is now in remission but had a 'long road to recovery', re-learning to do simple things like hold and use cutlery. Rhonda is speaking out about her incredible comeback in a bid to inspire others.
She told Lanarkshire Live: "I had just retired in May from my job in Wishaw General. In the first week of July I had been feeling unwell, but had said to Polash that we would go and look for lighting for my new house.
“The day we planned to go out shopping, I didn’t answer the door so Polash banged on it. He managed to get in and I was so ill I didn’t even recognise him.
"Every organ in my body failed and I started taking seizures. Doctors gave me 24 hours to live.
“It was very difficult times and even now my elbow is smashed to bits due to my fall. I was then diagnosed with cancer."
Rhonda added: "I managed to battle through, but it was a long road to recovery. I had to learn to hold a knife and fork, I couldn’t lift a cup - in fact, I didn’t even know what a cup was.
"Thankfully I am now in remission.”
Former colleague Polash helped nurse his friend Rhonda back to health.
She said: "If it hadn’t been for Polash, I would never have got through my tough times. Whenever I call him, he knows what kind of mood I’m in and whether I need a pick-me-up.
“You can’t buy friendship like this.”
Lanarkshire Live surprised Polash with a beautiful floral arrangement at his home, courtesy Pixies Petals in Newmains.
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