AN APPEAL to raise money for a desperately-ill grandmother from Inverkeithing reached more than £500 in less than a day. 

Valentina Glennie, 53, of Manse Road, suffered a severe stroke in Bulgaria on Monday, September 11, after attending her daughter’s wedding. 

Unable to travel home and still in hospital in Sofia, she’s been left paralysed down one side and unable to speak while husband Robert, 52, has had to come home to work. 

He told the Press: “I just want her home. I’ve not slept and my head’s all over the place.

“The problem is we rely on two wages coming in. We’re up to our eyes and we took a loan out so we could go to the wedding. 

“I’ve had to come home to work so I can send money over there for the medical bills. 

“It was just terrible. I don’t speak a word of Bulgarian and it’s hard to get updates on how she’s doing. 

“We don’t know how bad it is. I think she recognises us but it’s difficult. She’s making noises but she can’t talk.”

Valentina, who works as a kitchen assistant at Inverkeithing Primary School and a cleaner at Inverkeithing High, was back in her native country with Robert for the wedding of her daughter, Boyanna. 

It took place in Pazardzhik, in the south of the country, and after the celebrations she and Robert departed for a short holiday. 

They were in the capital, Sofia, when she suffered the stroke. 
Robert’s daughter, Laura, was also at the wedding and had flown home before her step-mum took ill. 

The language barrier has made it difficult to get accurate information from Bulgaria about Valentina’s condition. 

Laura, the student president at Glasgow School of Art, started the gofundme page and explained: “Healthcare in Bulgaria is not free and costs are beginning to rack up. 

“We expect she will be in care in Bulgaria for up to three months until she is stable enough to fly home. 

“The hospital Val has been sent to for specific stroke care charges a daily fee – as well as the costs for food, medication and sanitary needs.

“In addition to this, we have to consider her eventual travel costs, care and adaptations to the home which will be needed, such as stairlift, shower assistance etc.”

She added: “We have the fighting spirit, just not the cash, so have set up a Gofundme page to rally some support.”

Robert, who works at Sky in Dunfermline, said: “She’s paralysed down the right-hand side and she can’t speak.

“Boyanna is staying in the hospital with her and she told me there’s been slight movement in her leg, which is something, but it’s going to be a long recovery. 

“Stupidly, we didn’t take travel insurance and it turns out the EHIC card is useless. 

“We just didn’t expect anything to happen, we were going to be with family in Valentina’s home country, and now we’re goosed.” 

If you would like to help, go online at https://www.gofundme.com/DonationsForValentina.