The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
A brave mum has told how she was given just a week to live after a brutal rape left her with a chronic eating disorder.
Donna Kennedy was subjected to a sickening sexual assault by someone she knew when she was aged seven.
The 34-year-old kept her harrowing ordeal a secret and was so tormented by what she had been through she developed anorexia when she was 12.
Donna, who is 5ft 10in, starved herself to five stone and doctors gave her just a week to live.
With the help of her parents and medical intervention she managed to turn her life around and battle her way back from the brink of death.
Just when things were looking up tragedy struck again when Donna was in a serious car crash aged 19.
She was so badly hurt she developed epilepsy and scoliosis in her spine.
But the inspirational young woman used her traumatic experiences to become a psychologist, motivational speaker and an author.
Now a healthy mum to two-year-old Ashton, Donna has opened up about getting her life back.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mirror, she revealed: “When I was anorexic I was literally half the
woman I am now but I managed to get through it.
“I was in and out of hospital during that time, counselling wasn’t really helping me.
“My parents played a huge part in my recovery, especially my mother.
“Her support was amazing and I am lucky I have been exceptionally well for 17 years since.
“Then after the crash I had to take a year off college to recover and it did really knock my confidence.
“My mother used to say to me, ‘You have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again’.
“I still try to live by that today.”
Donna feared the anorexia would rear its ugly head again when she was pregnant but luckily it didn’t – although she did have frightening epileptic fits.
She added: “I was worried about my epilepsy and I did suffer from two seizures at 13 weeks.
“But I love my body now and I am confident. Once I got pregnant all I could think about was the new life growing inside of me, my little miracle.”
Thankfully everything went smoothly and Donna now lives happily in Lanzarote with her son and partner.
And she has channelled her struggles and experiences into a book called Born To Be Beautiful, which aims to help women feel and look amazing during pregnancy.
Donna said: “You don’t have to be supermom, I know myself that tiredness triggers my epilepsy.
“It’s a way of life now for me to try and keep myself healthy.
“I would never give anybody dieting tips, I have seen too many people end up miserable after going on fad diets.
“I have learned you need to work with your body and nourish it to stay healthy.
“Everyone can be amazing and beautiful, you should try and be the best version of you and not a second-rate version of someone else.”
join