A paralysed mum-of-four will be reunited with her family before Christmas after an anonymous benefactor donated £15,000 to her appeal.

Lucy Lowe, 37, of St Budeaux Close, has spent the last year in Ottery Hospital, unable to return home – but the donor, a recent widow, said ‘life is too precious’ to be apart from your loved ones.

The cash will be enough to ensure that work to adapt her home can get under way without further delay and bring the family back together again.

The benefactor is now calling on local trades-people to help or donate materials.

She has known Lucy’s Ottery-based family for many years and when asked about her generous donation, she said: “Why wouldn’t anybody want to help? Not long ago, I lost my partner and my one regret is not spending more time with him.

“Every minute is precious to spend with loved ones. I couldn’t believe it when her mum said she had been in hospital for a year.

“I’m glad I can do this for someone I know, but even if I didn’t know them, it’s so important for a mum to be at home.”

Lucy had an accident on her wedding day which broke her coccyx and she tried various medications to relieve the pain, before making the decision to have surgery.

Complications left her unable to walk and she has spent the last year in a hospital bed.

Before the act of generosity, Lucy had been devastated to be turned down for a disability grant she thought was her ‘last hope’ of being reunited with her four children and husband and spoke of her despair at being away from them for so long.

She told the Herald the news still has not properly sunk in yet and she cannot believe she will finally be back with her family. She extended heartfelt thanks on behalf of her whole family.

To find out more about Lucy’s story, visit: www.helplucy.co.uk and donate via: www.gofundme.com/lucylowe.

The contribution will enable builders to begin the vital work on converting her garage into a bedroom and living area, creating a downstairs bathroom and levelling the family’s driveway.