MOSSEL BAY NEWS - It is Women's Month - a time to celebrate women's achievements and victories.
Reebok resident Natalie Gunther broke her neck in a motor vehicle accident on Women's Day in 2014.
She was living in Kempton Park at the time. Amazingly she survived the injury and went on to establish a business and a charity. She is only 35 years old and has already won two highly recognised business accolades.
Natalie says: "I am glad I broke my neck. I was involved in an accident at the hands of someone else, who rolled the car off a highway. I was flung out of the vehicle 15 metres and found unconscious.
"I woke up in ICU with the broken neck, fractures in my back, bleeding on the brain, a hole in my eardrum, multiple bruises and cuts.
"The neurosurgeon said he would be operating in two days and that I had a 40 percent chance of survival and if I survived, a 50 percent chance of being paralysed. The operation was done, where they fused my vertebrae using a metal plate. I was discharged, wearing a neck brace."
An X-ray of Natalie's neck.
Five months
Natalie had to wear the neck brace for about five months. "I had to move back in with my parents, where I remained in bed for the most part of five months."
To the amazement of medical practitioners she healed well and was not paralysed.
Natalie says it is a miracle she survived.
"Before the accident I had worked full time. Being stuck in bed, I had to make an income. Before I had the accident I had thought of starting a business and charity, and wanted to learn how to do website design.
"I had my logo designed by someone while I was in hospital and being bedridden afterwards, opened my business and my charity and taught myself how to do website and graphic design.
"In less than a year I started employing staff and moved into an office.
"My life had changed drastically. I used to sing, DJ and play a lot of sports but with a hole in my ear, a plate in my throat and a fragile body I can never do those things again. I realised those things took a lot of time and time is precious. I need to rather spend my time, growing myself, my business, my charity and making a difference in the world through my story.
Love life
"People say I am crazy for saying I am grateful for the accident, but now I absolutely love life and just being alive."
While she was recovering Natalie found her body would not take in junk food and she had to change her diet and is now a vegan.
"I love what I do in my business and I have found my passion: to inspire people."
Natalie says it is an absolute miracle she is alive and healthy today and blessed in business. She says it is "thanks to God, who has helped and guided me every step of the way".
She is determined to provide an alternative solution to the use of harmful chemicals used in pit toilets. There are more than 6 500 such toilets in South Africa. Monthly, about four children die from falling into pit toilets, she points out, and the chemicals used in them damage the environment.
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