A four-year-old who suffered a stroke after picking up a rare heart infection is battling back to health with the help of friends and family.
Mum Amy Sawers thought her daughter Heidi would quickly recover from the cold she picked up just after new year.
But instead of shaking off the winter bug, the youngster was struck by a rare form of endocarditis and was rushed to Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow where she had open heart surgery twice.
The infection also caused her to have a stroke, which affected the movement on her right side, and Heidi spent months in hospital before she was finally discharged in mid-April.
Now the youngster is settling back in at home in Barclay Street, Stonehaven, where 20 friends teamed up at the weekend to transform her garden into a place where she and her mother can focus on her rehabilitation.
The family have thanked all their friends and the medical staff who looked after Heidi, saying it was the “support and love given from everyone” that helped them cope through such a difficult time.
Aunt, Ruth Sawers, who came up with the “secret garden” idea, said: “Heidi loves being outdoors and going along the beach on her bike.
“The right hand side of her was affected by the stroke and her hand is not quite working yet, but she’s walking about and getting on great.
“We thought this would be a nice thing to do to help with her stroke rehabilitation.
“It’s something that we’re all trying to help her along with.”
The team built new decking and a seating area, spruced up the grass, installed a rubber path for Heidi’s tricycle and built a tree house from scratch.
They also brightened up the garden with a cherry blossom tree and several flower pots, and surprised Heidi with the makeover when she came home from a day out with her mum on Saturday.
The volunteers, led by Stuart Smith, of Springhill Nurseries, worked from 9am until 6pm to finish the project.
Their efforts became frantic as the deadline loomed but Miss Sawers said it was worth it to see the surprise on little Heidi’s face.
“It was exactly like an episode of Groundforce in the end,” she said.
“Heidi was absolutely delighted and she loves going up and down the chute.
“All the volunteers stayed to hear the Stonehaven Pipe Band play and Heidi sat right at the front.”
The group were also grateful to receive supplies from MacDougall Masson, of Stonehaven, Scotbark, Glasgow, and Forest Gardens, in Shropshire.
The family will be holding a ceilidh later this summer to contribute towards the costs of Heidi’s trips to Yorkhill, where she has to go regularly for appointments and rehab treatments.
Miss Sawers added her thanks to everyone who had contributed to Heidi’s recovery.
“It was the support and love given from everyone that got us all through such a hard time,” she said.
“The doctors and nurses at Yorkhill and all the amazing people back home who sent such lovely cards and texts and wee gifts for Heidi – every last one made a difference.
“Her rehab is going to be long but she’s going to start school as planned this year.
“And with a lovely new garden she can play and get strong so she’s ready for the new school after the summer.
” We just want to say thank you to everyone involved over the last months and with the garden project.”