A BRAVE woman is battling back after she was almost crippled.
Teresa Millward, 28, of Crosland Moor, was almost paralysed after kayaking in New Zealand in April.
She felt pain in her shoulder and was told she needed treatment within 48 hours, or the two collapsed discs in her spine could leave her permanently paralysed.
But she was in a hostel two days away from the nearest hospital.
She had to be airlifted to a hospital in Christchurch, having been staying at a remote hotel in Lochmara, on South Island's Marlborough Sounds.
Teresa said: "I had been kayaking as a teenager, but it was a different atmosphere.
"I had been to Scotland, where it was in lakes. But this was sea-kayaking and the water was full of jellyfish. It was difficult.
"I thought they'd send me home, but they airlifted me to Christchurch, which was a bit of a shock.
"If I had crashed the kayak or something it would be understandable, but it seems I sustained the injury just through exercising".
But after treatment in hospital there was a long and agonising road back to recovery.
Teresa had to stay in New Zealand for three months for the healing process to start, before she could fly home to the UK.
When she returned she was admitted to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and stayed there for five weeks.
The former marketing manager had to give up work as a result of the injury - but she has now set herself fresh targets.
Teresa said: "It has been a desperate time, but I am a determined person.
"I have set my sights on walking again by my 29th birthday in February.
"I am planning a trip to Vancouver, Canada, for my 30th birthday and nothing will get in the way of that - not even this injury."
Teresa is also volunteering as a marketing worker for Huddersfield charity The Nerve Centre.
The charity, which helps people with neurological conditions, helped Teresa when she first came out of hospital and was depressed.
Steps lead to Teresa's home, which have made her a virtual prisoner in her wheelchair in recent months, although she is now beginning to use crutches for the first time.
The life-changing situation forced her to reassess her circumstances and she decided to look at continuing a business administration course she had started at Derby University in 2003.
She said: "I had some credits on the course and saw it as something to build on.
"At first I asked about travelling to Derby for the course. It would have been extremely tough, mentally and physically, just getting there, but I felt I had to do something.
"I was questioning my worth, sitting at home day after day, feeling utter despair.
"I felt I was going insane and needed something to occupy my mind and give me hope for the future.
"Then the university told me I could study online from home.
"It was like a ray of light which shattered the darkness around me. It was a real godsend. It was such a comfort to know I could concentrate on my studies at home while rehabilitating."
Her MBA course features modules on integrated management, effective communication and managing people.
There are discussion forums, so she can chat with her tutor and other students on the course in a virtual classroom environment.
Teresa said: "I now have an aim. I plan to complete this course, get walking again and start my own graphic design company from home.
"I have become a stronger person with everything I have been through. I am determined to succeed.
"I owe a lot to the university for being able to study online. I urge others in a similar situation to find out more."
Derby's University's Virtual Services Unit operations manager, Matthew Wheeler, said: "We are delighted Teresa is enjoying the course. She is an inspiration to us all."
