A WOMAN who feared she would not be alive to celebrate Christmas has finally returned home after life-saving surgery.

Sarah Gearing, 40, of Millview Meadows, Rochford, has returned to the UK following lifesaving neck fusion surgery at Teknon Hospital in Barcelona.

She was able to have the surgery after friends, family and strangers raised £130,000.

After she touched down at Southend Airport this weekend, Sarah said: “My heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to my family and friends, local community and kind-hearted strangers who rallied to support me and achieved the seemingly impossible, raising £130,000 in just six weeks to save my life.

“I had the surgery on November 9 and already feel as though I am getting my life back.

“I am still in recovery but I can breathe and swallow easily again, I am no longer having seizures, and I can sit upright and look forward to my future.”

Sarah suffered for 20 years with rare genetic condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which makes her body’s connective tissues collapse.

In September last year she was told she would not see Christmas.

But her life has been saved after she underwent surgery involving a total neck fusion and procedures to permanently relieve the compression on her spinal cord.

In support of Sarah’s recovery, Southend Airport and easyJet supplied Sarah with free tickets for her and her family to come home.

Speaking about the gesture, Mike Webb, councillor for Hawkwell East, said: “What Sarah’s situation has highlighted is that the community spirit in the Rochford District is alive and well. A great example of this has been Southend Airport and easyJet supporting the campaign.”

Glyn Jones, from Stobart Aviation, owners of the airport, added: “We were very happy to get involved in the SurvivalSurgery4Sarah campaign and do all we can as an airport to support her.”

Although Sarah has returned to the UK, she now needs further surgery due to an infection in two of her bone grafts.

Her campaign, SurvivalSurgery4Sarah, is trying to raise another £70,000 to fund her recovery and to pay for her following surgery. To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/survivalsurgery4sarah