'I've done better than anyone dared to hope'

A woman with a rare connective tissue condition says she is looking forward to a fresh start with a career in teaching.

Melanie Hartshorn of Cramlington, Northumberland, has Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which caused her skull to dislocate from her neck and spine.

The 35-year-old, who underwent surgery five times, has fundraised for all of her operations, which were carried out in Barcelona as they were not available on the NHS.

Ms Hartshorn, who has also moved into a new home, said she had "done better than anyone dared to hope".

Her rare medical condition is caused by faults in certain genes that make connective tissue weaker and "hyper flexible".

She has spent most of her life lying down and, for 18 months, had to wear a surgical halo vest to keep her alive.

Ms Hartshorn has waited six months to move into the bungalow, which belonged to her late uncle, and said she felt it would make a "big difference" to live there.

"It's my independence, here I can get around the rooms. The doors are extra wide for accessibility. I can do my baking, my crafting and there's a garden."

She is currently working up to two days a week at a primary school to introduce her to teaching, ahead of undertaking a two-year PGCE course at Sunderland University.

"It's lovely, it's a really, really nice school and is all open plan," she said.

"It's perfect for my wheelchair for getting around and the students are all lovely, they all know me and call me Miss Mel."

Her future in teaching is something she once thought was impossible, and she has been able to move home with the support of a team of dedicated personal assistants.

"I've done better than anyone dared to hope," she said.

"To be able to say I've taken a few steps, I'm going to do my teaching and I've moved into my own home it's fantastic."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.