Angela Bradbury suffered a stroke in August, two days before she was due to start a Mediterranean cruise.
The 69-year-old, from Overseal in Derbyshire, initially went to hospital in Derby when her “voice went all gobbledegook-y”.
Her condition improved at first but, when she woke up the next day, she had lost the use of an arm and a leg.
“I knew everything that was happening but I couldn’t speak it,” said Angela, who was taken in an ambulance to the QMC.
“It’s lifesaving,” she said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have saved my life.”
Angela says she is recovering well – and even got her money back for the cruise.