Thorny Life (2nd Edition)

I was born on 9th June 1964 at Dudley Road Hospital to Surdarshan Kaur Abrol and Avtar Singh Abrol. I was a beautiful baby. At the age of fifteen months I was struck down by cerebral palsy. This left me partially paralysed down my left side. I have no use of my left arm and walk with a limp on the left side. This has not deprived me of anything in life because I have achieved a great deal.

First I attended a Special School, getting nowhere, then going to a Private School where I achieved my O'Levels and became independent, doing things for myself. Afterwards, I went to a local college where I got my A'Levels. I learned to drive which increased my independence tremendously.

Getting married and moving away to live in Germany for three years meant I had to adapt to a new life style but circumstances caused me to move back to England where I gave birth to my son. My husband joined us and we bought a restaurant in Worcester. After three months of getting the restaurant, he wallked out of our lives. For him, it was just a marriage of convenience.

After a great struggle, I decided to sell the restaurant and move back to Birmingham. My son went to a local school while I went back to college and completed a degree in Media Studies at University of Birmingham.

I have worked as a Learning Resources Facilitator at South and City College Birmingham for thirteen years.