An elderly woman in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province was a step away from having her leg amputated after dragging her feet on getting treatment because she wanted to schedule surgery on a "lucky day," local media reported Monday.

It took doctors at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital two surgeries to save the leg of the  72-year-old, surnamed Xu, who was discharged Sunday.

"If she came two days later, she would have lost her leg," Zhu Yuefeng, the attending doctor, told media, adding that Xu's right leg had swelled and turned black from arteriosclerosis and deep vein thrombosis.

Xu explained she held out for eight days so that her surgery would line up with the Chinese Lunar Almanac.

"The calendar did not advise to leave the house or undergo surgery," said Xu, who said she was immobile and unable to sleep because of the pain.

Based on the lunar calendar, the Chinese Almanac is a millennia-old book that in part addresses what activities are suitable on each day of the year.

Qianjiang Evening News