A WOMAN close to having her life-support machine switched off has recovered to thank doctors who saved her.

Catherine Allburt, 41, collapsed without warning at work in May this year after suffering a massive aneurysm.

Her heart stopped twice and the aneurysm caused so much damage to her brain doctors nearly didn’t operate.

Catherine, from Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope, was in such a bad way she spent two weeks in a coma with doctors at Queen’s Hospital in Romford talking to her family about switching off her life-support machine.

It was only when a nurse spotted Catherine’s eyes fluttering open that treatment continued.

Catherine, who can remember nothing about her collapse, said: “The doctor told my parents that he could operate, but there was a chance I would die, or be brain damaged.

“Once he started the operation, the doctor said there was so much damage in my head that he nearly didn’t go ahead.

“I’m lucky to be alive. They saved my life.”

Catherine had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

She was rushed to Queen’s Hospital in Romford where she spent a fortnight in a coma.

From there she was moved to Basildon Hospital, where she spent three weeks, and then was moved to the Regional Neurological Reha-bilitation Unit, in Homerton.

She was told she would probably be kept in until December, but made such good progress with her recovery that she was allowed to go home in October.

She has since gone back to visit staff at Queen’s, who say they cannot believe her progress.

Her family, including parents Stuart and Monica, along with friends are also grateful to the hospital and helped to organise a fundraiser at the Welcome Club, in Victoria Road, Stanford-le-Hope, where three live bands entertained.

The money was originally going to go to Catherine herself, but she has decided to give the money to the neurological intensive care unit at Queen’s.

The night raised £900.