A TRAGIC car accident that left a Holcombe woman being told she would never fully recover has led to her writing a book about the unlikely hero who changed her life.

A Border Collie was to become an inspiration in getting Diane Barker to fully recover after a car crash that led to surgeons wanting to amputate one of her legs.

In 1998 Diane was in a head-on car collision in Crete.

She was told by doctors that her prospects of recovery were slim, and that she would never walk any considerable distance again.

Diane refused to have her leg amputated, which was what the surgeons in hospital all agreed was the only way forward.

‘I wouldn’t let them amputate,’ she said. ‘I told them no way! And without my consent there was nothing they could do.’

After six years of physiotherapy and chiropractic work Diane made some progress. But it wasn’t enough. Sadly, Diane would fall into a deep depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Resulting in her feeling that she would never be her former self again.

After years of anguish, her daughter suggested getting a dog. The thinking at the time, was a dog would serve as a powerful incentive to get out and ‘walk.’

Soon after, Diane found Jesse, a male Border Collie, who the vets agreed was highly intelligent, even for his breed.

Jesse always slept by the front door to guard the house, but when Diane had nightmares he was there, by the bed.

‘He wanted to explore everywhere,’ said Diane. ‘I found myself following him everywhere too, I just fell in love with him.’

This bond continued for years and as the love grew stronger, so did Diane’s ability to walk further and further.

Sadly, some years later Jesse was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. The vet said he would only have a few weeks to live.

This was when Diane decided to give back to the dog that had changed her life. She consulted a nutritionist and spared no effort in making every day with Jesse as full of fun as possible.

Her plan worked, and to the vet’s shock, more than two years later Jesse was going strong before dying of an unrelated condition.

Diane would ‘never forget’ how Jesse had changed her life and made her feel like herself again.

She remembers playing with his ball on Teignmouth beach, his tremendous enthusiasm for life and how this inspired her to miraculously regain her health, physically and mentally.

After documenting her story, friends of Diane recommended writing a book, which is now being stocked by Waterstones and Amazon.

Jesse: The True Story Of A Dog Who Changed My Life (Paperback) is available for sale.

All money raised from the sales will go to the Border Collie Trust, and other dog charities.