A Scots mum who was left blind and unable to walk after a mystery accident in 2016 has taken her first steps again.
Donna Shinnie, 42, has defied doctors who told her that she’d never walk or speak again following a ten month stint in hospital.
Medics feared the mum-of-one would be permanently blind and require round-the-clock care following the incident at Union Bridge in Aberdeen after a night out on April 26 2016.
However, she has beaten the odds and is now working closely with North East Sensory Services (Ness) to regain confidence and independence.
Ms Shinnie, whose speech was also affected by the fall, was only kept alive in hospital after a doctor saw a "glint in her eye".
Her mother Linda Girling, 61, has cared for Donna since the incident along with her sisters and brother.
She said: "Everything changed in that moment. We were in Pitlochry for a weekend away when we got the call from my son that Donna was in hospital.
"Donna was a bit tipsy on a night out and was fooling about on the seats at the side of the Union Terrace bridge and went over down the hill.
"We thought we were going to lose her, she was in intensive care and a coma - the doctor said if he hadn't seen a glint in her eye they would have let her go."
"It was a real struggle at first, but we just decided we were going to work at it and make little improvements every day," Linda said.
"I said we would get her body working again - I made her that promise.
"She's got an amazing family around her working so hard all the time to help her.
"First she started speaking, then she got up on her feet, then was able to use a zimmer and eventually could walk independently. Now she's walking all the time and even goes on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day.
"Every week she was just able to do something more. It was the same with her speech.
"She couldn't say much at first, now you can't shut her up.
"It can be difficult at the moment because she knows what she wants to say but the signals aren't quite getting through to her mouth - that's what gets her more frustrated."
The fact Donna lost her sight as part of the incident has continued to mystify doctors.
"They just don't have an answer for it," Linda explained.
"That was probably the toughest part for Donna to deal with - we had a very hard time with that. But we just had to say, that was your life before, this is your new life now."
The family made contact with Ness staff and work has since taken place to help Donna regain strength and mobility while using a long cane.
Donna worked with Ness' rehabilitation for visual impairment officers and Horizons (Aberdeen Health and Social Care partnership's Occupational Therapy department), pushing herself daily to regain her strength and mobility.
Ness staff like Elaine Taylor, who is part of the charity's fieldwork team, have worked with her family throughout.
The option of a guide dog is now being explored, while an application is under way to secure funding for an OrCam MyEye 2 device, which would give Donna far more independence.
But Linda said it wasn't just the practical support Ness offered that she was impressed by.
She said: "Ever since lockdown, they've been on the phone every couple of weeks. It's not even for specific reasons, really just to check in to see if Donna is okay.
"It doesn't sound like much but it makes a massive difference - no one else has done that for Donna.
"They've been a great support in other ways too.
"We're currently trying to get the money together for an OrCam, which is a little camera and microphone which you put on your glasses.
"That then sees things and reads out what they are to Donna - faces, banknotes, barcodes on shopping items, it's amazingly advanced.
"It's so important because it means Donna doesn't always have to ask for help - it genuinely makes everyday tasks like going to the shop a more independent experience.
"It costs around £3,500 and we're making some good progress getting towards that. Beds, chairs, transport - everything just costs more.
"At one point I even spent £185 on a special cushion. It seems a lot, but you would do and pay anything just to improve quality of life that little bit."
Ness staff have been working to find funding sources to help towards the cost of the OrCam.
Although no progress has been made in getting Donna's sight back, the family, including her 15-year-old daughter Brooke, have made so many other breakthroughs they remain optimistic.
Linda also had advice for other families coping with the effects of serious illness and injury.
She said: "There's much more we want to do, although it's actually lockdown that's stopping us at the minute more than anything else.
"So once we're through we can see what will happen."
