THE odds say Joanna Grattidge shouldn’t be here today.

In March last year she was struck down by swine flu, leading to numerous complications and given just a 30 per cent chance of survival. Her family had gathered around her bedside, preparing to say goodbye.

But thanks to the intervention and expertise of hospital teams, the 49-year-old, who lives in Weymouth, got to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary in August, and welcomed the arrival of a new grandchild in December.

Now, Joanna, who told her story in the Dorset Echo in May 2016, wants to give something back to those who saved her life.

She is still recovering, and has had to have three operations in the last 10 weeks alone, but Joanna is looking forward to the future and is making and selling bracelets in aid of the Guy’s and St Thomas charity.

Joanna, who has two grown-up children and five grandchildren, said: “Jewellery making is something I’ve been doing for some time and when I was recovering I found it very challenging, because of the co-ordination and concentration it takes. But I stuck with it and as time’s gone on and I’ve got better I thought, as it’s been such a huge therapy for me, why not sell the bracelets and raise some money?”

Money raised from the sale of the bracelets goes towards research and equipment at the ECMO ward at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital in London.

When Joanna fell ill, on March 18 last year, she was taken to Dorset County Hospital’s intensive care unit. A team from the London hospital were contacted and visited her – and on the same day a bed became available there.

She recently met the consultants who escorted her.

“It was a surreal feeling,” she said. “I visited the ward to give them some money and someone said both were there. They said how lovely it was to see I’m well and we had a cuddle. I said thank you to them.”

She has also praised her friends and family, who have offered support and kindness

Joanna is recovering from her illness – which included swine flu, double pneumonia, bronchitis, sepsis, and deep vein thrombosis – but has been left with fatigue and asthma.

But she has celebrated a number of milestones with her family since leaving hospital, and asked for donations to the hospital charity instead of Christmas and anniversary presents.

“We don’t know how lucky we are with the health service in this country. I just feel so humbled to have got the care I did.

“We asked for donations instead of presents and we’ve given the hospital everything we can, but it seems like nothing compared with what they gave me. I survived. What more could I want?”

The bracelets can be purchased by searching Guys and St Thomas charity fundraising on Facebook or by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Joanna-Grattidge