A devoted mother struck down by a debilitating illness has vowed to fight on by starting her own business.
Senghenydd resident Hannah Hill, 49, had to sell the cleaning firm she owned when she developed Fibromyalgia – a condition which leaves its sufferers in chronic pain.
Hannah explained: “I was in a car accident in 2007 which left me in severe pain in my hips and neck. Then in early 2010 it felt as if I was pulling muscles all of the time and I couldn’t understand why.
“By April 2011 I couldn’t physically run the business and handed it over to one of my staff. In September that year I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and that was confirmed by my consultant last year.
“I was told I would increasingly get worse over time. The following year was hard as I had to learn over again what my limits were and how not to push myself – if I did, I was laid up in bed for days.
“But I had to get out there and work.”
Inspired by her daughter Louise learning sign language because of her school friends, Hannah started taking lessons and eventually discovered baby sign language – a technique which helps babies and toddlers communicate earlier.
Developing Sign2Baby over the last two years, Hannah has produced her own music and books, which are used in her classes, and are also available to buy.
Hannah said: “I was determined to get this business going – I couldn’t just sit around the house. What kept me going was the fact I am a positive person.
“If I get knocked down, I get back up.”
Despite only starting her classes very recently, Hannah’s efforts have already seen her win two business awards and get nominated for a third.
In March this year she won a Woman in Business award and in April she won a Great Biz Award for outstanding support in the community.
She said: “I want to be an inspiration to those out there who suffer with this debilitating illness and show them that we can get our lives back to a certain degree.
“There are still days when I battle to achieve daily things, but I will never give up.”
For more information visit www.sign2baby.co.uk
To be admired. Well done.