Mum Carole Simpson-Reeve had to learn to walk and talk again after suffering devastating brain bleed

One moment, Carole Simpson-Reeve was a strong, energetic businesswoman who loved running her own hair salon.

The next she was fighting for her life after suffering a major bleed on her brain.

Carole suffered such a severe brain injury she nearly died and life, from that point, was never the same again.

She had to learn to walk and talk again and four years on, her journey towards recovery is still on-going.

Carole ran Caramel Browne hair salon in Blackberry Road, Stanway.

Her daughter, Annoshka Moy, said: “Mum had trained as a hairdresser in London and did some work at the Vidal Sassoon salon.

“She opened the business in 1974 and worked at Caramel Browne for years.

“I started working for her when I was 16 as a Saturday girl.

“I didn’t want to go into hairdressing, I wanted to be a fashion designer and went to Colchester Institute to study fashion and textiles.

“I loved it but I came to the conclusion I was doing more and more hairdressing and I really enjoyed it.

“I trained in London and went back to working with Mum.

“We are both feisty and it was difficult at times but we have a close relationship and we speak to each other about everything.

“We lived and worked together.”

But in March 2012, their lives suddenly changed forever.

Annoshka said: “We had been on a day out shopping. I was three months pregnant and we were shopping for a pram.

“I dropped her off at home and she was fine but then her friend, who was living with her, called me and said she had collapsed over a garden table.

“To be honest, I wasn’t especially worried at the time.

“Mum suffered from severe migraines and I thought that was what it was.

“I met them at the accident and emergency department at Colchester General Hospital.

“She was conscious but was holding her head.

“While we were waiting, she suddenly sat upright and part of her face dropped down. I thought she was having a stroke.

“She was rushed into the resuscitation area.

“It was horrendous.

“She was in absolute agony and had to be sedated so she could be incubated to help her breathe.

“It had got very serious, very quickly.”

Carole’s brain was scanned and the bleed on her brain was detected.

She was transferred to Queen’s Hospital in Romford which specialises in neurological conditions.

Carole underwent surgery to stem the bleeding.

Annoshka said: “It was touch and go.

“It was not a given she would survive.

She added: “A couple of days later she had more small strokes and developed pneumonia. She got an infection and sepsis.

“She had to have her heart restarted a couple of times and she had multiple organ failure which meant she had to go on dialysis.”

Carole, who lives in Colchester, was in the intensive care unit for two months.

Annoshka said: “I was going there every day.

“Luckily we have a good team at the salon and they ran it for me for a couple of months.

“Mum was mostly unconscious for that time.

“When she wasn’t, we tried to communicate. I used to get her to squeeze my hand or blink but that was all there was.”

Annoshka named her son, Billy, after the neurosurgeon who saved Carole’s life.

As Carole’s condition started to improve, she was transferred back to Colchester General Hospital’s intensive care unit but she was still seriously ill.

“She had suffered major brain damage,” said Annoshka.

“She was wheelchair bound and was confused.

“Hallucinations are quite a standard post traumatic side effect and Mum would be really scared at times.”

Carole was later moved to the stroke unit and then finally to a rehabilitation centre in Norwich where she learnt to walk and talk again.

She was allowed home in early 2013, nearly a year after she first suffered her brain bleed.

She moved house to be closer to Annoshka who, along with friends and carers helped to support her. Carole, who is 65, also went to the Headway Essex day centre in Colchester when she met new friends and got expert support and advice.

“It was fantastic for her,” said Annoshka.

“She had a social life and something to focus on.”

But Carole was never able to work.

Annoshka’s managerial role was extended and she took over the salon completely.

It has just undergone a major refurbishment and Annoshka plans to use its official re-opening to raise money for Headway.

She said: “It will be a celebration of everything we have achieved since this happened to Mum.

“We have kept her in the loop. It was her baby and she will be there at the opening.”

Mother and daughter still side by side.

Everyone is welcome to attend the re-opening of the Caramel Browne salon on Thursday from 6pm to 8pm. For more information, email reception@caramelbrowne.co.uk or call 01206 330709.