A "lucky" Eltham grandmother-of-five whose life was saved by a last-minute liver transplant after turning yellow is encouraging people to register as organ donors.
Sue Bray, who worked at a Bexleyheath GP surgery, was shocked when she developed jaundice and turned the colour of "Sesame Street’s Big Bird".
The Cookston Road resident nearly died from an allergic reaction to herbal menopause medicine, which she had been taking for just 10 days.
The 64-year-old said: "My liver function was up the wall.
"I had 48 hours to live at one point.
"I could not believe what was happening to me.
"I thought, ‘I do not drink, I do not smoke, I live a healthy life.’"
Left to right: Dr Samir Arora, Victoria Hansell, Sue Bray, Carol James and Pauline Ransford
A worried Mrs Bray went straight to Blackfen Medical Centre, where her doctor Samir Arora examined her even though the surgery was shut.
Mrs Bray said: "He has been a support ever since. Nothing is too much trouble."
After tests at Queen Elizbeth hospital in Woolwich, Mrs Bray was put to the top of the transplant list in Kings College Hospital.
She was saved with just hours to live after somebody in the north of England died, and his liver was transferred by helicopter to Kings.
Mrs Bray, who does not remember much of her illness, said: "Even now I have to say: ‘Did that really happen to me?’
"I woke up with a giant wound like a woman who has been sawed in half on stage."
Now three years into recovery, she added: "Life is a bit different but I consider myself very lucky."
Blackfen Medical Centre nurse Victoria Hansell, 54, is fundraising for a helicopter landing pad at Kings, which will cost £3.5million.
Ms Hansell was amazed by the generosity of businesses on Blackfen High Street, every one of whom donated.
Ms Hansell, who lives on Westpark in Mottingham, said: "I am very proud of Blackfen High Street.
"It’s fantastic up there, a fabulous community."
Having worked in the NHS for 30 years, Ms Hansell is passionate about organ transplants.
She said: "If you saw Sue now, she looks fantastic.
"She was saved by the liver, because of Kings College Hospital and because someone signed up to have their organs donated."
Ms Hansell is holding a fundraising disco on Saturday, July 11 at Goals sports ground in Horn Park - tickets cost £15 and are available on 07815 319549.
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