A Press Association feature writer has been shortlisted in a new award scheme for the way she has bravely tackled personal adversity.

Lisa Salmon, who is based in Leeds, is nominated alongside seven other candidates in the ‘A Woman of Substance Awards’ – launched to mark the 30th anniversary of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s best-selling debut book of the same name.

Lisa, 42, was nominated by her mother and friend Gail Robinson for the way she recovered from crashing into a lorry in January 2001, which left her blind, and from the death of her baby aged just two days.

Eight years ago Lisa was driving to cover a story when she was involved in a car crash from which fire crews had to cut her free before being airlifted to hospital.

Her first of many operations lasted 12 hours as doctors dealt with a horrendous list of injuries including fractured skull, brain injuries, two broken legs and eye sockets.

Prior to the accident, Lisa had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis in one of her eyes as a child meaning she already had impaired vision. The accident left her blind in both eyes and facially disfigured.

Despite not being expected to make it through the night, Lisa made an amazing recovery and left hospital three months after the crash – a full 15 months earlier than doctors predicted.

Five months after the accident Lisa fell pregnant but her baby Conor died aged just two days after accidentally suffocating himself against his mother’s breast in hospital. An inquest ruled the hospital had failed Lisa.

She has since undergone painful plastic surgery on her face as she doesn’t want children laughing and being cruel to her two sons about her.

Since her recovery she has been a tireless advocated of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and has been on TV as part of her fundraising efforts.

The awards ceremony takes place in London on 10 September and will be hosted by Kay Burley of Sky News.

The first prize package includes a luxury cruise worth £5,000 and makeover while runners-up will receive copies of Ms Taylor Bradford’s books and DVDs.

Comments

Onlooker (13/08/2009 13:09:14)
I think either of those two dreadful, life-changing events would have destroyed many of us. Full marks to Lisa and her family for battling on.

Sheila Johnson (13/08/2009 17:11:24)
Stories like this show the resiliance and bravery of human nature at its best. Well done Lisa. Every blessing.

Lisa Salmon (14/08/2009 16:42:42)
Thanks for those lovely comments! The way I see it, what’s the point in moaning/feeling sorry for yourself? I wouldn’t have my lovely family if I’d done that.