A MUM-OF-THREE who made a miracle recovery after her organs failed has found a new lease of life through her art.

Suzanne Campbell, from Birchwood, had an eight-year health battle but has now returned to her job as an art teacher for disabled students at Woolston High School.

She said: "I love it. If I won the lottery tomorrow I'd still do that because I find it so rewarding."

Suzanne is registered disabled due to complications after her liver, kidneys, lungs and immune system failed. Her late mum Freda also had polio.

The 51-year-old added: "It's part of life so I've never looked at anyone with a disability any differently. The challenge is making a lesson that works for every pupil.

"One pupil might have trouble putting their hands on the clay for example."

Suzanne's organs failed in 2003 just after she finished her fine art degree at the University of Chester.

She said: "I'd done my degree, I had three children and I was working and I ended up with these flu-type symptoms.

"Doctors kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me but I started deteriorating and it got to the stage I couldn't get out of bed.

"My lungs failed, my kidneys failed, my lungs failed, my immune system failed and finally my blood failed.

"My body filled up with fluid and it was like I had drowned inside."

At first, doctors thought it was lead poisoning from Suzanne's paints and then they treated her for lymphoid leukaemia.

Her illness was undiagnosed but was thought to be lupus and her intense treatment included six months of chemotherapy, dialysis, steroids and anti-rejection drugs.

Suzanne, whose work is featured at Italian restaurant Caffe Caruso in Bank Street, added: "They told me I'm a miracle. I shouldn't be alive. I had to learn to walk again.

"It took me eight years to get better. I can remember waking up and having no control over my head. It's weird not having that control over your body."

To celebrate her recovery as well as her 50th birthday, Suzanne set off on a Caribbean cruise followed by a trip to Bangkok, Vietnam and Cambodia in 2013.

Suzanne, who has four grandchildren, said: "That gave me the oomph to start painting again. Railay in Thailand gave me the most inspiration. It's the most magical place.

"It was at one time a Rastafarian place and has still got that influence and laid back atmosphere.

"There is also a legend there about a princess in a tower, a bit like Rapunzel."

In fact, Suzanne has found inspiration from eastern culture since her childhood and that is reflected in her work.

Her dad Ken was in the RAF and she spent some of her childhood in Cyprus. Suzanne's granddad Than Maung was also from Burma.

She added: "I'm a quarter Burmese so it's my roots. Everyone wants to know where they're from."

Suzanne, who has lived in Warrington since she was nine, has also completed her first exhibition in London.

The artist exhibited seven pieces at Burgh House in Hampstead with a collective called Nine Lives

"I didn't think my work was good enough," said Suzanne.

"But I think that's artists for you – you doubt yourself. It was a buzz sitting there as people came by and talked about my work. I sold one to an art collector."

DAVID MORGAN