A Wishaw woman given just 24 hours to live has thanked her friend for being there during her most serious of heath problems.
Rhonda Martin worked in the NHS for four decades before retiring in May 2019.
However, just two months after saying her farewells to staff at Wishaw General, she collapsed and was in a coma for 42 days.
Throughout it all she could count on the support of her friend Polash Shajahan, who ultimately saved her life.
Rhonda told Lanarkshire Live : “I had just retired in May and then I collapsed in the first week of July.
“I had been feeling unwell, but I had said to Polash that we would go and look for lighting for my new house.
“When I didn’t answer he banged on the door. He managed to get in and I was told I would be dead in two days if I didn’t get to the hospital.
“I was so ill I didn’t even recognise him, they gave me 24 hours to live. Every organ in my body failed and I started taking seizures.
“It was very difficult times and even now my elbow is smashed to bits due to my fall.
“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.
“I was then diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully I am now in remission.”
Rhonda and Polash have been friends since he was a senior psychiatrist and ward manager at the hospital respectively.
Initially born in Bangladesh, Polash came to Scotland as a small child.
He studied and went to university, qualifying in psychiatry and research gaining awards for his studies and leading teams in writing articles that have played a huge part in psychiatry today.
He also gives back to his homeland in more ways than one.
Rhonda told us : “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.
“When I bought my house in Wishaw it needed a lot of work done on it and Polash helped me so much.
“He’s a perfectionist and seems to be able to turn his hand to anything.
“Without question he gives generously to the children of Bangladesh awarding a scholarship for children well learned who, for one reason or another, cannot dedicate their time to study as finances are not available.
“You can’t buy friendship like this.”
When Rhonda told us about Polash, we were delighted to help out.
And surprised him with a beautiful floral arrangement at his home, courtesy of our friends at Pixies Petals in Newmains.
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