MIRACLE woman Christine Skiffington has gone back to the classroom to take lessons in life after recovering from a living death.

The former school secretary of Glencoe Drive, Breighmet decided that helping lively youngsters was just what she needed to teach her the social skills forgotten after two years in a coma.

So the mother-of-four, who spent years re-learning how to perform the most basic tasks, decided to help pupils and staff at the school where she used to work - The Moss County Primary School in Falkirk Drive, Breightmet

Now she assists in reading lessons at the school were she was secretary until two years before being struck down with a massive brain haemorrhage. And she believes her long road to recovery has given her vital insight into the pupils' problems.

Christine, aged 56, said: "I had been in a sheltered environment so long that I needed something to help me get back into the world again.

"Coming in here listening to the children read has helped me gain confidence and mix with people again.

"Because of what happened to me, I also know how difficult it is for the children. When I came out of the coma I had to learn to walk, speak and even dress myself again so I know how hard it is for them to learn."

Staff at the school were among an army of family and friends who kept a vigil at her bedside during the two years she was in coma when doctors warned husband Dennis there was little hope. She added: "I was not expected to live but they never gave up. I was lucky that I always had plenty of visitors and I am sure people constantly talking about things I knew finally got through."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.