A nan-of-four survived massive injuries after being involved in a horrific crash.
Vicky Edgar, 73, was a passenger in a car which was involved in a road accident on Northway in Maghull.
She was left with a spinal fracture, a broken foot, ribs and ankle, a hole in her diaphragm and her spleen had to be removed.
She was taken to Aintree Hospital's major trauma centre for emergency treatment and spent eight weeks there.
Her injuries were so severe that on two occasions she was thought to be close to dying, with her husband, Richard, being called to the hospital.
Mrs Edgar was in the hospital's critical care unit - only used for patients who require the highest level of monitoring and intensive treatment - for six weeks.
Miraculously the pensioner made a full recovery following the accident in April and is now back home in Aintree.
She said: "The staff and the services at Aintree were brilliant, not only for me but also for my husband, daughter and son.
"This was undoubtedly the most difficult period of my life and Aintree's critical care unit helped me overcome the obstacles and offered invaluable support to my family. I'm so grateful to the hospital for saving my life."
Husband Richard said: "It was extremely hard for me to see Vicky like she was, broken and bruised."
Mrs Edgar, a former clerical officer, worked in Aintree's radiology department from 1988 to 1999, while her daughter, Joanne Lackey, is now a ward manager at the hospital.
Joanne said she was blown away by the care her mum received, adding: "I never thought I'd find myself in such a situation, relying on my friends to save my mother's life.
"The standard of care and aftercare mum received makes me very proud to say I work at Aintree. The staff are a credit to the profession and it is a privilege to work under the same roof."
To show their gratitude, the family raised £1,745 towards the hospital's critical care unit. The money helped to fund a revamp of the unit's rooftop garden, used by patients receiving physical rehabilitation and for people visiting friends and relatives who need some time to themselves.
Thanks to the donation, the new-look garden now has a water feature, new benches, plants, pots, lights and other accessories.
Diane Taylor, critical care matron at Aintree, said: "The garden looks a hundred times better. Their fundraising will help so many of our future patients and their relatives in their healing process."
