Medics are true heroes, they saved Tony's life

However, this month has been a rocky one for my family, and I so I must dedicate this to the wonderful staff at New Cross Hospital.

You see, I nearly lost my husband a few weeks ago. I've mentioned previously that Tony was suffering from severe heart failure.

It was supposed to be a four hour operation, but Tony was in the operating theatre for eight hours and they nearly lost him twice. But head surgeon Mr Billing, along with his excellent team, didn't give up.

They kept him sedated for a week; it was so hard seeing Tony lying there with nothing but tubes and a beeping machine that we'd stare at for hours, willing the numbers to rise.

However, the aftercare provided by the staff was wonderful. Not just the physical support to Tony, but the emotional support to me and our children. They are true heroes.

They know your worries yet are able to provide you with a reassuring sense of calm to help make you feel more at ease. I was even serenaded by some of the staff with their rendition of Could It Be I'm Falling In Love, once Tony's stats started to look a bit better. It put a big smile on my face.

Now I shouldn't laugh, and maybe it's out of relief, but some of Tony's post-sedation hallucinations have resulted in him seeing the most random things.

Even when he had visitors, they were trying not to laugh – but you can't help yourself.

There was Rasta donkey, who was apparently running amok around the ward with a flashing red light on his tail, for starters. Then he was convinced that Jesus is an Irishman who was busking in the corner of the Bullring singing Paddy McGinty's Goat. You reach a point where you just have to go with it.

I sat there thinking that they'd fixed his heart but messed with his mind. But the nurses continued to remind me that this was all perfectly normal 'We hear all sorts and get this all the time,' one said.

As I'm sure you can imagine, we're just relieved that Tony's still here, as are our close friends.

So to Auntie Daisy, Julie, Heath, Gary and Sharon and many others, I must thank you all for being there for us during this period. I don't know how we'd have got through without you. My daughter Natalie has also been my rock – she always is, so thanks for keeping everything in order at home.

She even snuck a sneaky little surprise to cheer me up. She nominated me for the Inspirational Celebrity Mother Award, in association with the Caron Keating Foundation, hosted by Gloria Hunniford. I was pipped to the post by Carol Smillie, who I have to say is a wonderful woman. I'm looking forward to catching up with her at one of my Scottish gigs.

Finally, to all those at New Cross Hospital who've helped to take good care of my husband, I want to say thanks. In my eyes you all deserve significant recognition and a pay rise raise – more so than our politicians. I've seen first-hand just how hard you work.

They have to deal with more than most and it's thanks to these unsung heroes that I'll be eternally grateful for saving my Tony's life.