OF RESIDENCE
noticed her right leg was kicking out while she was walking. Her GP referred her to a specialist who found her vertebrae were narrowing on one side.
She said: “I needed surgery to try to prevent me becoming paralysed. But the operation didn’t work and I woke up to find I’d lost the power in my legs.
“It was such as shock to find out I wouldn’t walk again. My husband was devastated. He’s still not got over it.“
After spending five months in hospital with her spinal injury, Ruth was given more horrific news.
She said: “Doctors found I had a tumour. It’s a pituitary tumour in my head and I have monthly injections to prevent it getting worse.”
Yorkshire-born Ruth, who moved to Scotland 30 years ago, returned home on Christmas Eve 2006 with a special bed installed and carers visiting.
Ruth has five children and 23 grand- children but they all live in England. Robert, 53, was struggling with his own health problems and so Ruth had to move into Riverside Care Home in Wick.
Ruth said: “I was told it was the wrong place for me because the other residents are old.
“I could have gone to a facility in Aberdeen or Edinburgh but I couldn’t leave my husband behind.
“I can go out in my electric wheelchair but with so many shops closed in Wick, there’s not much there.”
She opened up to Jean at church and explained how low she was feeling.
Ruth said: “One day I told her I needed to get away because I was really getting down. The next thing I knew she was starting this collection.”
Donations flooded in and art sales, a baking stall and bingo event were organised to meet the fundraising target.
Scots airline Loganair donated free flights from Wick to Edinburgh. And since fundraisers didn’t have to shell out for travel, they gave Ruth the money for her shopping trip in the capital.
She has just returned from her 11-day break to Leuchie House. She added: “I want to thank everyone in Wick for what they did for me.”
Jean, 70, who spearheaded the fundraising, said: “It’s so remote here and the facilities aren’t great. It was so important for Ruth to get a break.”
Leuchie House spokeswoman Lorraine Hunter said: “For many guests like Ruth, the break can be quite transformational because it gives them a chance to socialise.
“In their time at Leuchie, we see them open up, getting a chance to do things most of us take for granted.”