IT'S been a hard road for Natalie Manasse and her family, but a massive home renovation has helped bring some comfort to their lives. Natalie, 21 poured $80,000 of her own money into renovating her quadriplegic mother Angela's Tewantin home in order for her to live a healthier and happier life. Here is her story in her own words. 

AT the age of 15 I was involved in an accident where a bus driver misjudged the turn into a bus stop, resulting in the bus hitting me in the back while I was standing talking to a friend.

The accident caused me spinal injuries which are still prevalent to this day. After four difficult years of fighting my case, it came to an end and we agreed on an amount as I wanted to live a life free of that emotional stress - like a teenager should be able to.

When my mother, Angela Manasse, was six months pregnant with me, she was in a near-fatal car accident, which led to the doctors having to deliver me three months premature and the extensive impact of the incident made my mother a quadriplegic.

A few months after receiving the payout from my bus accident, mum was placed in the Intensive Care Unit with a life-threatening infection.

At the time, her house (which she still currently lives in) was not suitable or safe whatsoever for her condition - the walls were one of the main issues, being far too close together for her wheelchair to move around safely and easily, resulting in her breaking her leg.

She broke her leg twice in the span of only a few months, which led to an infection taking place in her leg, which then spread to her lungs. Once the infection had spread to her lungs, it became life-threatening and she was placed in the Intensive Care Unit on life support for several days on end.

As soon as my father was informed of the situation, (my parents are separated and Dad has been dealing with the stress of being in a motor-vehicle accident himself resulting in him losing a limb), he immediately called me to let me know the absolutely horrific news about mum. I was on holidays in Gladstone with my friends, but returned home straight away in case mum didn't make it through.

It was only after returning home that day that I realised the full extent of the situation and how serious the complications were; I wasn't even allowed to talk to mum on the phone, which at a young age made it even more difficult.

Unable to sleep, and worried sick about mum, I decided overnight that I was going to rip the whole inside of the house out, and renovate it to meet the safety standards needed for her being in a wheelchair.

Within the next 24 hours, I had a builder there, among a myriad of other qualified professionals and tradesmen, giving me quotes for the renovations to begin as soon as possible. 

Incredibly, everything started taking place that week as they all knew the reason behind the renovations, and mum was still on life support.

I know that dad would have physically helped me if he could, but after having an accident himself resulting in him losing a leg and subsequently having to have a hip operation, he wasn't able to with his condition.

After three gruelling days, mum was able to be taken off life support, although had to be carefully and closely monitored in the hospital for over a month.

I checked on her every day as often as I could, making sure she was staying strong, whilst I spent all of my other time working day and night with the tradesmen on the house.

After eight weeks of non-stop work with the renovations, we were almost finished the interior.

We had created a whole new bedroom for mum which would enable her to move safely and easily in her wheelchair, but started to fall short on money.

This led to a lot of stress and many sleepless nights, trying to do every bit that I could to try and save money, even going without food.

I applied for a loan at the bank, explaining why I needed the money. Surprisingly, luck came my way and I was approved, which allowed me to finish the renovations faster and have the house approved by the hospital as a safe environment, so mum could come home sooner.

Regardless of the fact that I didn't have enough money to finish the exterior of the house like I wished, I was still very happy to be able to have this surprise for mum the day she came home.

Knowing that she would be safer was such a relieving feeling, I struggle to find words to describe how happy it made me. 

Being only 18 turning 19, there were many other things people my age would've dreamed to spend their money on, but when it comes to my family there is nothing I wouldn't do.

Nothing else means more to me than their wellbeing and happiness.

After seeing my mother so unhappy with the situation that she is stuck with for the rest of her life being a quadriplegic, it was the least I could do to try and see her smile a little more.

After being closely monitored in the hospital for two months, she was finally allowed to return home.

The moment I opened the door, her face lit up - she was completely speechless, tears streaming down her face.

Once I knew mum was healthy enough, I went and got myself a job. I had to have spinal surgery, but the operation helped me to be stable enough to work. Every week that I got paid, I did every little bit that I could with the money up until the interior of the house was 100% finished.

It's now been three years since the completion of the interior renovations, and I have just finished renovating the exterior as well.

I replaced the old brick pathways with new concrete ones so when mum isn't well and has to be taken to hospital in an ambulance, it is easier and safer for the paramedics to transport her via stretcher on smooth, flat ground.

I've also redesigned the gardens to make them a beautiful area for her to relax and enjoy her days a little more, and created a new patio area which allows her to still get fresh air even when it's raining, instead of being constantly cooped up indoors.

Knowing that the house is now complete, and exactly how I envisioned it would be from day one, is an amazing feeling.

All I ever wanted to achieve from doing this was to put a smile on her face and that's exactly what has happened; I may not be able to reverse the damage caused by her accident, but by renovating the house to make it safer and easier for her, I think that it has definitely made the quality of her life improve.

I'd like to thank the following trades companies for their generous help during the renovations: 

Craig Eades Electrical

Troy Chisom Tiling

Phil's Tile Warehouse

Outside Noosa

Great Potts from Beberok Excavations