Moray heart attack victim designs 'thank-you' tartan
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A heart attack victim from Moray has made a special tartan to thank the medics who saved her life.
Linda Gorn, who runs the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre, came so close to passing away that she had a near-death experience.
But having pulled through she's now created a tartan to raise money for the heart team at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The ARI has come to her rescue twice.
January 9, 2021, is a date etched in Linda's memory.
At 7.50pm that morning she began to experience unbearable pain.
Her husband, Brian, immediately rang 999 and an ambulance was at the 74-year's home within half an hour.
Linda said: "It was in the middle of the pandemic so Brian wasn't allowed to come with me in the ambulance, or even go into the hospital.
"I remember looking at him and wondering if we'd ever see each other again."
En route to Dr Gray's the ambulance stopped at a lay-by between Mosstodloch and Lhanbryde.
Here it picked up a paramedic who was qualified to administer morphine to Linda to lessen her pain.
Clot-busting drugs were then given to her at the Elgin hospital.
Later that same day she was transferred to Aberdeen where a stent was fitted.
Linda says the relief was immediate.
However medical tests during her stay at the ARI revealed that she had swelling around an artery.
Fast forward 15 months and it was decided that Linda needed open heart surgery.
She underwent a six-hour operation in Aberdeen on April 21 last year.
Three days later, as she lay recuperating in a hospital bed, she had a near-death experience.
Linda said: "I had the classic feeling that I was going down a tunnel. I knew I didn't want to keep travelling in that direction, but I couldn't stop.
"I was brought up on Orkney in a religious background, so I'd always presumed that I would start praying when my time finally came. But I didn't pray, I just started to panic that nobody was going to help me."
At that moment, though, Linda became aware of someone standing at the foot of her bed.
Keith Buchan, a consultant, had observed she was in danger.
He administered steroids and, again, the effect was instant.
Linda said: "I owe Mr Buchan my life. It's that simple. I can never thank him enough.
"But the whole team were tremendous. Connor and Alan, the physiotherapists who helped with my recovery, were great. In fact, I owe them all so much.
"Designing the tartan is my way of saying thank-you.
"As Mr Buchan says, ARI is now the first heart team in the world to have a tartan designed for it."
Linda picked the three main colours of her Hearts of Grampian tartan very specifically.
The red signifies blood, while its grey stands for fear and uncertainty.
White, meanwhile, is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Various items made from the tartan, such as ties and scarves, can be bought either from the centre on Keith's Mid Street, or by emailing kiltsandtextiles@btconnect.com
A raffle is also being held, for which the draw will take place on June 17.
First prize is a kilt outfit worth £1500 and made from the new tartan.
Second is a painting by Keith-born artist Charlie Roy of Strathisla distillery.
Third is a piece of jewellery from Ortak, which has a branch in Inverness.
Tickets can be bought online at shorturl.at/xKRX1
Alternatively, they are available from the centre as well as other Mid Street businesses, such as A M McPherson, The Deli Shop, Shears Hair & Beauty Retreat and Baird's Pharmacy, or from Clark's Pharmacy on Regent's Street.
