A YEAR ago Carolyne Underwood hoped she might be walking again within months following a freak accident which left her paralysed.

A mystery benefactor had offered £24,000 for special treatment abroad after hearing how the bar manager woke up unable to walk after a night out with friends.

Waiting

But 12 months on, Carolyne - who suffered burst blood vessels in her back as she slept - is still waiting for the stem cell treatment.

Last year threw more set backs at the 26-year-old from Stalybridge, Tameside, who was beginning to rebuild her life following her terrifying spinal cord injury. In March, violent spasms dislocated both her hips forcing her to have a massive operation after months in hospital.

Confident

But Carolyne says she is confident that 2009 will be her year. She has started physiotherapy again in a bid to defy experts who say she will be confined to a wheelchair - and she's also taking driving lessons.

At the same time she is making new plans for the trip to Los Angeles for her treatment.

'Determined'

She said: "That money is still waiting in the bank and if all goes to plan I hope I can have my treatment by the middle of this year. After the excitement last Christmas I really felt like I'd gone all the way back to the beginning in March, having to spend such a long time in hospital. But I am determined to build my life back up again."

Working

Carolyne remains fiercely independent, living in her own home next to her parents and working in the bar where she was a manager before her accident.

She said: "You just have to keep on going and stay as strong and positive as you can. When you've got loving friends and family around you that's the best thing."