The SNP’s Jim MacLeod spent three months in two hospitals, including spells in high dependency intensive care units.

A simple leg wound sparked a series of infections which left the Port politician gravely ill with septicaemia and fighting against the deadly MRSA superbug and E.coli.

His wife Sylvia, pictured with Jim, was at his bedside all the way through and at her lowest ebb feared the worst for her husband.

Sylvia, 59, who became tearful when recalling what had happened, said: “I thought he wasn’t going to be here.

“It’s the most difficult time in the 18 years we’ve been together.” Jim, 53, has been in a wheelchair since he was knocked down on the Clune Brae as a schoolboy in 1969 and has suffered a series of health problems as a result of the accident.

His recent ordeal was sparked after he injured his leg on a flight returning from a holiday and it failed to heal, a problem common in paraplegic patients.

Jim said: “I was going out to meetings and coming back to my bed hoping it would heal but I started to get more wounds and sweat rashes.” Things came to a head in February when his leg turned scarlet, then black and he passed out.

He was immediately rushed to Inverclyde Royal and was unconscious for more than a week and had to be given air and oxygen.

Jim said: “I don’t remember anything for the first 10 days — I don’t even remember leaving the house.” Sylvia added: “I was terrified — I thought I was going to lose him.” As her husband was pumped full of antibiotics to clear the infection Sylvia remained frantic with worry.

She said: “He was still sleeping after a few days and the nurses didn’t seem to know if it was the infection or the strong drugs that were keeping him the way he was.

“He knew I was there and what I was saying, because he was crying.” When he finally came round, workaholic Jim immediately asked for his council mobile phone to check on the emails he had missed, but his hands were so swollen that he was unable to hold it.

Jim also experienced severe respiratory problems and was told by doctors that there was too much carbon dioxide in his blood.

He spent a further two months in the spinal unit at the Southern General Hospital and its high dependency and respiratory units.

It transpired that he was also suffering from MRSA, E.coli and another infection.

He underwent various procedures to remove the infected blood and tissue and had to lie on a special mattress for 23 days to help relieve pressure sores.

He said: “I lasted 23 days, and I was told that was 21 days more than anyone else.” Despite Jim’s illness, his main concern was missing out on canvassing for the general election.

He said: “I kept on thinking about the election. I couldn’t telephone people because some patients were on ventilators but they allowed me to email. I also asked to put posters up on the ward.

“Nurses said we couldn’t do that because of the risk of infection, so we got them laminated.

“That gave me a bit of a boost beause it’s the first time in 23 years I’ve not been able to get involved with campaigning.” Jim was delighted he got out of hospital a day before the poll but knows he still has a long road of recovery ahead.

Jim said: “That’s the thing with septicaemia — you feel exhausted months afterwards.

“I want to get back serving the community and to do everything I can for my constituents.” The couple, who live in Fyfe Shore Road with pet dog Clyde, now plan to celebrate Jim’s recovery with a Mediterranean cruise later this year.

They would like to thank doctors and nurses at both hospitals for their superb care, and everyone who sent goodwill messages.