WATCH: Dreams and pains keep her motivated
Natalie Gunther, an accident survivor, told the RECORD that people should not wait for something drastic to happen before turning their dreams into a reality.
RANDHART — Doctors told her there was a slight chance that she might survive and that if she did, she would be paralysed for life but today, Natalie Gunther (30) is living her life to the fullest.
Over a year ago Natalie, a Randhart resident, was involved in a serious car accident. She was the passenger in a car that rolled on the highway and was flung out of the car and found about 15 meters from the scene.
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“I woke up in the hospital’s intensive care unit where I spent 11 days. I was told that I had broken my neck and that there was a 40 percent chance of me surviving an operation and a 50 percent chance that I would be disabled. This was something I made peace with while I was in hospital.”
Several operations later, a steel plate was successfully screwed into her neck. Natalie survived and she was not disabled as the doctors had predicted.
“I still have my aches and pains everyday but I try to remain positive and I just want to inspire other people who might have given up on life.”
While she was in bed for three months at home, Natalie spent hours on the internet where she taught herself the ins and outs of graphic design and how to design websites.
“This is where I converged my marketing skills and started a marketing company, Green Leaf Project, all from my bed.”
During her recovery period Natalie also started a charity called Hope Station that focuses on helping children and women by getting them off the streets, out of bad relationships and assists them with trauma counselling.
“Starting a charity was a dream of mine even before the accident and I kept on telling myself I need to do it, but never made time. People should not wait for a drastic event to do what they love and make their dreams come true.”
Natalie said she hopes her story will inspire others.
“Bad things happen to us all the time but we can turn this into a positive and use it to help others. I use my injury as my own inspiration to remain positive because helping others has its rewards as well.”
Natalie shares her story:
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