Lindy Moors from Steyning broke her neck and back in a week

Lindy Moors, 64, suffered the second injury on the day she was due to be discharged following a freak accident at her Steyning farm.

She had to undergo three major surgeries in the space of a week at the Royal Sussex County Hospital - with doctors warning that either injury could leave her paralysed.

But incredibly Lindy is still able to walk and talk and she is now on the road to make a full recovery.

She said her week from hell has left her feeling "lucky to be alive".

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Lindy said: "The whole experience was absolutely terrifying - you hear of broken necks and backs and think the worst.

"I never expected I'd make it home alive and I was sure I'd never be able to hug my family again - but three months down the line my physiotherapist said he can't believe how far I've come.

"I'm still in a lot of pain but I think of it as a positive - as long as I feel pain, I'm know I'm not paralysed or dead!

"I have no idea how or why I'm still alive but I feel so lucky to be here - with the support of my amazing family and the staff at the hospital.

"But this experience has shown me I'm stronger than I thought I ever could be.

"Even after a serious accident, there's always hope."

The garage door that broke Lindy Moors' neck

Lindy, who runs a small farm with her husband Arthur, 64, was first injured after being knocked unconscious by a 60kg door.

The sliding door came free from its runners and crashed down on top of her on January 24.

She crawled out from beneath it, feeling a "terrible pain" in her neck - but she was still able to move, so she said she "never considered the possibility it was broken".

Lindy went to hospital where an x-ray revealed one of her vertebrae was fractured and also compressed.

"I was sat alone in the hospital - I couldn't even see my husband because of coronavirus - and I had no idea what was going to happen to me."

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The grandmother was booked in for two surgeries over the following days to insert metal plates and bone grafts around the fracture.

Lindy, mum to daughters Sara, 42, and Kaye, 38, and grandmother of five, recalled being warned of the risks and dangers of her injuries - which included paralysis and death.

Successful surgeries on her neck took place on January 26 and 28 and doctors told her that her recovery was going well, and she could be discharged to recover at home on February 2.

Lindy was excited to be reunited with husband Arthur, until just 12 hours before her discharge - when she suddenly collapsed on the way to the toilet.

Lindy Moors with her husband Arthur

"Everything went fuzzy, and I felt like I couldn't breathe," she recalled. "I tried to pull the cord for the nurse, but my knees must have just buckled."

"The next thing I remember, my back was in agony and I was lying sprawled out on the bathroom floor."

Lindy was barely able to move and was rushed for another x-ray which revealed that she had fractured yet another vertebrae - this time in her lower back.

On February 3, she had her third major surgery in just eight days, where she had yet more screws and bolts fitted, as well as another titanium cage and bone graft.

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She said: "I remember waking up from the third surgery and beginning to wonder how on earth I was still alive."

Lindy has gone through a slow recovery process where she could barely move but eventually became strong enough to stand up wearing a body brace to secure her neck and back.

She was able to return home to husband Arthur and their dog, Peggy, on February 12, and she said he became her "chef, nurse and personal shopper" as she was first limited to standing and walking for just a handful of minutes a day.

Since then, Lindy has slowly built up some strength and is now able to walk for up to 25 minutes a day, and has began to cook and clean again.

Lindy has been left with huge scars

She said: "I've been told to take it easy but I'm pushing myself to do more and more every day.

"My physiotherapist can't believe how much stronger I've grown in the last three months."

She now has two enormous scars stretching almost the whole length of her spine.

As she continues to recover, Lindy says she can't wait to tend the farm animals and go for long hikes with Arthur and their dog again.

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Lindy said: "I still can't quite believe what I've been through.

"There was a time when I never thought I'd make it home or hug my family again - I'm still not sure how or why I'm even alive, and not paralysed.

"I consider myself incredibly lucky, and whenever I feel pain I see it as a positive - as long as I feel pain, I'm know I'm not paralysed or dead!

"I have had amazing support from my family and I couldn't be more grateful for the treatment and care I received at Brighton hospital.

"In particular, my surgeon was absolutely wonderful - his care, knowledge and expertise are the reason I'm doing so well today.

"Looking back on the past few months, this experience has shown me I'm stronger than I thought I ever could be.

"I want people to know that even after a serious accident, there's always hope."