An award-winning Angus businesswoman whose nail salon is drawing customers from as far afield as London hopes the story of her fightback from serious brain injury may help others on their road to recovery.
Kelly Christie from Montrose was brought back to life three times and given little hope of survival following a car accident 11 years ago.
She was in a coma following the crash as a result of suffering injuries including a fractured skull and the severe brain trauma that left the young mum struggling to cope with the most basic of daily tasks.
Warned that she may never work again and would require the help of a carer to complete normal daily tasks, Kelly suffered severe depression and attempted to take her own life.
“At three years’ recovery I was no further forward and the routine of two steps forward and 20 back was a nightmare for me,” she said.
Kelly’s turnaround began when she started receiving private medical care and she slowly began to rebuild her life.
“Before the accident I was a chef and could do 100 meals no bother, but I forgot how to cook and being unable to do even the simplest things made me frustrated and angry,” she said.
She added: “I was a model for a nail salon in town for completions and training – I always has my nails done – and this was the first and only thing I had an interest in, which then helped me concentrate a bit better.
“I trained to the highest level i could in all my treatments. I am fully booked most weeks with clients coming from as far as London.
“I have only ever been interested in doing my job, I don’t care about money but my job saved my life and gave me a reason to be here, a reason to get out of bed in the morning and to concentrate on my personal life at home with my daughter.”
Kelly has also paid tribute to the part played in her transition to successful businesswoman by friend Ross Murray, the finance director of Acumen Accountants in Aberdeen
“I have no interest in money, accounts and numbers. I get confused, angry and upset with pure frustration and avoided it at all cost,” added Kelly.
“I used to work with Ross as chef we got chatting one night about what jobs we have now. When I told him what I was like with my accounts that gave him the fear and he got back in contact with me to say he could help.
“For 11 years I have planned, tried and failed so many times to be in routine with my home and business but Ross has helped me in so many ways, making things much easier and taking pressure off me.”
