And for one local family, this Mother’s Day will be extra special.

Bunbury sisters Adele Trantham and Marilyn Hollins are counting their blessings after their 78-year-old mother fought back from the brink of death earlier this year.

Though now quite healthy and living at home with her husband, Joan Trinder was forced to have emergency surgery at the South West Health Campus in February when a major artery to her upper intestine became blocked.

After the operation, Mrs Trinder developed mesenteric ischemia and as her kidneys shut down and lungs swelled up, she was placed on life support.

Her devastated family were told there was only a one to two per cent chance of survival from surgery if doctors operated, but decided to push through with the operation.

“The only other alternative was to watch Mum die over the next couple of days,” Mrs Trantham said.

After surgery, Mrs Trinder was flown to Perth for treatment in the intensive care unit at Royal Perth Hospital.

At 3.30am on February 28, Mrs Trantham rang the intensive care unit to see how her mother was doing, only to be told the prognosis was not good and to not expect a recovery.

But by 9am, Mrs Trinder had not only woken but was speaking to family members over the phone.

Throughout the life-threatening ordeal, Mrs Trantham said she had been forced to contemplate a first Mother’s Day without her mum, making this Sunday an extra special occasion.