THE CROSSGATES community is celebrating the recovery of one of its own, as Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey was released from hospital at the weekend.

Pauline (39) spent weeks in a critical condition as she battled for her life against the deadly Ebola virus which she contracted in Sierra Leone volunteering as a healthcare worker. Members of the Crossgates community prayed for her recovery as her condition deteriorated, but brave Pauline managed to fight through the worst of the disease and was discharged on Saturday, free of the virus.

“I am just happy to be alive,” she said. “I still don’t feel 100 per cent, I feel quite weak, but I’m looking forward to going home. I want to say a big thank you to the staff who treated me - they were amazing. They were always very reassuring and I knew I was in the best hands. They saved my life.

“As I was beginning to recover, I listened to lots of music when I was in the HLIU and that was a massive help. I also had lots of Irn Bru to help me through!” Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley was pleased to hear of Pauline’s recovery and praised her bravery.

“I watched her interview and I think she is a very brave lady,” he said. “I spoke before about how we all go about our daily lives and don’t know that there are people in our communities who put themselves in personal danger to help others.

“I know people in the community were genuinely praying for her, thinking of her and wishing her well. I was very pleased to see she had recovered and it’s good that she’s now back on the mend.

“I wish her well for the future and I continue to think of everyone in our communities who goes out and help others while putting themselves at risk - they are unsung heroes.”