Just under a decade ago, Linda was given practically no chance of survival, after being struck down by a debilitating brain injury, which left her paralysed and unable to speak.

Even when her condition stabilised, doctors said she would be unable to do anything for herself and would have little quality of life.

However, what medical staff did not count on was Linda and Tony’s sheer determination and never-give-up attitude, which has led to a rehabilitation process that has stunned doctors and delighted the couple’s family and friends.

It was a Sunday night in 1994 when the O’Donnell’s world came crashing down around them.

Linda, a medical secretary at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, complained of feeling unwell.

At first doctors were at a loss to explain the mysterious illness but within a matter of days the once healthy and active young woman was on a life support machine and given no chance of survival.

Linda was suffering from encephalitis, a swelling of the brain.

For the next six weeks she remained in a coma, wavering between life and death.

Then, without warning, Linda woke up.

Tony, a freelance broadcaster, explained, “When she did wake up I thought it was the beginning of a new chapter. It turned out that this was only the start of her problems.

“Linda was 99% paralysed and could only communicate by shaking her head and moving her left hand.

“I thought the functions would start to come back and I approached a doctor who took me to his office and showed me scans of Linda’s brain.

“He said in a normal fully functioning brain there would be no white spots. When he put Linda’s scan on the lightbox, her brain was covered in white spots.”

In 1996 Linda was moved to Linlathen Nursing Home, where she stayed for several years with no recovery in sight. Then, to the utter amazement of Tony, in the autumn of 2000, Linda suddenly falteringly regained her power of speech.

Tony continued, “It was a miracle.

“Linda’s therapists could not believe it either. One of them actually burst into tears.”

In the summer of 2001, Linda was admitted to Dundee Royal Victoria Hospital’s Centre for Brain Injury Unit to continue her rehabilitation, despite scepticism that her condition would improve.

However, she has found her life transformed and has enjoyed a staggering recovery.

Although still confined to a wheelchair, she is now able to communicate freely and is able to do much more than was ever expected.

A programme of ‘‘aggressive’’ physiotherapy is helping her to feel her legs again and she does regular exercises to ensure that her arms regain their strength.

And not happy to just settle for that, Linda and Tony have not given up hope that one day she will not need the wheelchair.

Tony added, “Linda is 40 just now, and it may take until she is 60 but I am sure that one day she will walk again.”

In February, nine years after she first fell ill, Linda was able to return to her Carnoustie home.

She said, “Getting home has made a big difference. It is like night and day. I am able to do more now and I do not have to rely on nurses. Tony is always there for me.

“I am determined to continue working to make things better.

“It can be frustrating. I am at the stage now where my brain knows it wants to do something, but my body is unable to carry out the commands. That will come over time”

The next stage of Linda’s rehabilitation is to gain the ability to ‘‘weight bear.’’ This is the first step in the arduous process of learning to walk again and will take several years.

Bone specialists have completed assessments and their opinion is that with medication and physiotherapy, it is a real possibility.

Tony added, “Linda is the bravest and most determined person I know. What she has achieved cannot be done justice by mere words.

“She never takes no for an answer and that bloody-mindedness has undoubtedly got her through.”