An appeal has been launched to help a Perth woman who is recovering from a brain aneurysm get her life back on track.
Beautician Sue Varga (60), who ran her own business, fell seriously unwell at home last October.
She was rushed to the intensive care unit in Glasgow where she was put on life support.
Five months later, having been receiving treatment at hospitals in Glasgow, Edinburgh and most lately at the Centre for Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Dundee’s Royal Victoria Hospital, Sue is preparing to come home to Perth.
Friend of 14 years, Perth private hire taxi driver Michelle Gray, is urging local people to rally around her and has launched an online fundraiser.
Sue is known for her own charitable efforts including helping to make sure local people could access essentials during lockdown.
Michelle, from Burghmuir Road in Perth, said on the JustGiving page: “Sue has always been the first one to help and support anyone in need. Now it’s our turn to help her and get her back into her home.
“I know times are hard, but if we could all band together and support one of Perth’s finest, we can take the strain of money off her and support her getting home to start her next journey back to normal life.”
Kind-hearted Fair City residents – many who knew Sue from her beauty business – have given already, with £1,300 raised within days of the appeal going live.
Michelle told the PA she was worried when she lost touch with Sue when she suffered the brain aneurysm in October.
She said: “I didn’t know any more apart from she’d had this aneurysm and been rushed away.
“Sue didn’t have her phone and it was only a week or so ago that she was on the mend enough to ask another patient at Royal Victoria Hospital if she could go online with their mobile.
“She got a message to me and it all fell into place. Sue reached out and told me where she was.
“I was beyond words relieved to see her.
“What a thing she has gone through, having been so gravely ill.
“Over the years Sue has helped me out no end.
“I started a thing at Christmas a few years back helping Perth folk out, I did a family wish list, I got hampers to those most in need. In the pandemic I cooked meals for vulnerable people and delivered to their door.
“I could not have done it without Sue’s encouragement.
“She was always there, thinking how to make the most of things, helping others.
“Sue had a little stall of essential things when the shops all shut. She put it out in her yard in Glover Street. There was pasta and toilet rolls.
“She took great care to ensure dog owners had food for their pets when supplies were really hard to get.
“I want to make sure when she gets back her house is warm, she won’t have to worry about cooking and the internet and all those essential things are back up and running.
“I know she will be awfully tired, she’s had a huge jolt to her body and keeping her wellbeing up is the kindest thing we can all do for her.”
Donate to the JustGiving page for Sue – ‘Brain aneurysm has devastated this lady’s life’ –https://bit.ly/3lHY8zL