A PLUCKY grandmother is celebrating her 73rd wedding anniversary – a year after being put on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway because medics felt she was close to death.
Mary Gillman suffered two major heart attacks in three weeks.
Her husband, Arthur, was advised by doctors she should go on the Pathway, in which there is no further medical intervention, apart from making her as comfortable as possible.
He agreed – but with the toughness of Mary, and regular visits from Arthur, she slowly began to recover.
Eventually, four months after being put on the Pathway, and being given nothing stronger than Paracetamol, Mary was well enough to leave hospital.
Now in The Park Nursing Home, Chaddesden Mar,y, 90, originally from Moray Walk, said: "I never thought I would reach 90 or celebrate this anniversary.
"My health has suffered but I have survived the Pathway.
"Deep love has played its part in reaching this age and getting through the illness."
And Arthur, who still lives in the Chaddesden family home, said: "We have both had a very loving life together.
"I really love coming to see her and spending time with her."
The couple's children, David Gillman and Pauline Burrows, said they were thrilled to have been able to spend the extra time with their mother.
David, of New Avon Road, Chaddesden, said: "I never thought I would see this day and it's great to see her still battling on.
"We have seen a big change in my mother's health since suffering the heart attacks."
She was admitted to hospital and placed on the Pathway, under which all of her medication was stopped, with the exception of Paracetamol.
David said: "She became so ill I thought she was going to go.
"I remember the consultant saying she could survive three hours or three months.
"That was a year ago. It seems like such a long time now.
"It was quite depressing but the love she was surrounded with from all of her family really did her a lot of good.
"In fact it kept her going.
"It was a very rough time."
The couple have two other children, Margaret and Christopher, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
David said Mary has dementia but has a great memory of the past and the treasured memories the family have.
Mary, who worked for 10 years as a dinner lady at St Giles' School, was separated from Arthur for four years while he fought in the Army in the Second World War, serving all over the world.
Pauline, of Matlock Road, said: "My mother has had an unbelievable transformation.
"She has gone through lots of pain but she is just an amazing lady.
"After she had the heart attacks I never thought we would see her again."
