WHAT doesn’t kill you makes you stronger — that saying couldn’t be more true for mum-of-two Christine Hunter.

After suffering a brain haeomorrhage that wiped out her memory, Christine, from Knuzden, had to go back to college to learn to read and write again.

She was in her early thirties when an unknown condition which she was born with caused a bleed on her brain and changed her life forever.

Christine, now 54, cannot remember her own wedding day or the day her two sons were born.

She had to relearn all the simple tasks in life, including how to cook.

Following years of rehabilitation, Christine became an activities instructor in an attempt to get out and about again but tragedy struck once more.

In 1998 Christine received the shattering of beingdiagnosed with breast cancer.

Surgery, chemotherapy and a hard five years of drug treatment followed.

But, determined not to give up on life, Christine dusted herself down and against all the odds has set up her own business — and now she’s on top of the world again.

“For a while I was so depressed,” admitted Christine, whose remedial message business is based at Blackburn Enterprise Centre.

“I felt like every time I tried to do anything I was getting knocked back.

“I got used to the fact that my memory was so badly damaged that I couldn’t remember getting married or the birth of my two boys. I didn’t know who they were when I first came round.

“I had to learn to do everything again. I still struggle with things. I can’t properly remember the last holiday I went on this year,” she said.

“When I had started to get things back together I got breast cancer and was very poorly for a number of years. So at that point I just went into a safe bubble and thought if I stayed there I’d be protected. But one day I just decided I couldn’t live like that anymore and got help.

Encouraged by her counsellor, and supported by her husband Ian, Christine began massage training at the Central College of Health and Beauty in Manchester, and later gained a diploma in Remedial Massage at the prestigious Northern Institute of Massage in Bury.

At first she worked at Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service, treating carers — which she still does part time — but last year Christine set up her own company, The Natural Therapy Centre, and for the first time in 20 years she paid herself a wage.

“I’m like a middle aged happy bunny. It was hard to learn the massage because of my memory problems but with enough practice I have managed it. It’s like a dog learning tricks. If you do it often enough you just remember how to do it. That’s the only way to explain it.

“So it took me longer, but now I’m really good at my job and people pay me to do something I love doing. It still surprises me.

“But I don’t want people’s sympathy, I don’t do pity, I love who I am, I love what I do and I really love my life.”

l Christine set up her company with help from East Lancashire business development programme, No Limits. Next week it is Global Entrepreneurship Week, when there will be lots of events across East Lancashire. To find out more about starting a business and following Christine's example, contact No Limits on 0800 612 2029.