Donna Air counted her blessings at the premiere of Never Forget Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story after breaking her spine in two places just before Christmas and leaving her bedridden and wearing a neck brace.
“I feel very blessed and very lucky to have made a full recovery,” the 43-year-old actress told me at the event at Everyman Borough Yards in London.
“It was very debilitating, but I read a lot and walked a lot.
“It was a completely different rhythm of life for me. It was a reminder to myself to cling to the things that really matter.’
A former friend of the Princess of Wales’ brother James Middleton, Donna has a daughter with casino and wildlife park owner Damian Aspinall.
Lucky: Donna Air counted her blessings at the premiere of Never Forget Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story after breaking her spine in two places just before Christmas and leaving her bedridden and in a neck brace
Ordeal: “I feel very blessed and very lucky to have made a full recovery,” the 43-year-old actress tells me at the event at Everyman Borough Yards in London
Donna announced that she broke her spine in two places just before Christmas on December 23rd.
The actress took to Instagram as she shared snaps from the hospital in a neck brace as she told her followers her year “ended with a bang”.
Donna added that she was “held up” by the injury but thanked her nearest and dearest for the support through the difficult times.
Sharing her post, she wrote in the caption: “Well the year ended with a bang. Just when I thought this Christmas would be without restrictions, I managed to break my spine in two places.
“I think sometimes we get stopped in our tracks and once again reminded to keep it simple and look forward to seeing so many of you when I’m back in my dancing shoes.” I am grateful to my nearest and dearest who have made me smile over the last two weeks, especially @freyaaspinalll AKA ‘The Elf Who Saved Christmas’.
“A born COO and the greatest purchasing expert. Sending lots of love to you all, Merry Christmas to all and to those who are facing their own challenges. Remember, this too shall pass!
At her post, she sat in her hospital bed in the splint while in another shot she took a mirror selfie in her gown.
Another picture showed her with friends during her recovery, while another showed her cute dog by the Christmas tree.
Life: A former friend of the Princess of Wales’ brother James Middleton, Donna has a daughter with casino and wildlife park owner Damian Aspinall
Honest: She added: ‘It was very debilitating but I read a lot and walked a lot. “It was a completely different rhythm of life for me. It was a reminder for me to cling to the things that really matter.
Hard: Donna announced that she broke her spine in two places just before Christmas on December 23
Difficult: Donna said she was “held up” by the injury but thanked her nearest and dearest for the support during the difficult times
It came after Donna revealed the Covid lockdowns had caused her to gain weight “for the first time” in her life.
In 2021, she revealed that since the pandemic began the year before, she’d grown two jean sizes by eating cheese and several takeaways a week.
However, the actress insisted she has no plans to shed the extra pounds anytime soon, saying she’s “pretty happy about it” and loving her new “curves.”
Speaking of new! Magazine on staying in shape during lockdown, Donna said: “I’ve been pretty relaxed about what I’m eating.
“For the first time in my life, I’ve finally gained some weight, which is amazing.
“I went up two jean sizes during lockdown and it’s never happened in my life no matter how hard I tried, so I’m actually pretty happy about it. I kind of like my new curves.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, Donna announced that she had contracted Covid-19.
Sharing with her fans on Twitter that she had tested positive for coronavirus in late March 2020, she wrote: “I hope everyone manages to stay strong and relatively cheerful during lockdown.
Update: Sharing her post, she wrote in the caption: “Well the year ended with a bang. Just when I thought this Christmas would be without restrictions – I managed to break my spine in two places” (pictured with friends in her headrest)
Change: It comes after Donna revealed the Covid lockdowns have caused her to gain weight ‘for the first time’ in her life (pictured August 2020)
“Just wanted to let you know that you have developed mild flu-like symptoms and started self-isolating 18 days ago. I took a test for some clarity and the results tested positive for Covid19.
“Thankfully the symptoms improved shortly after and my loved ones showed no signs of the virus.
“I will continue to follow government guidelines and in the meantime I send lots of love to you all, especially those on the frontlines.”
Later that year in October, Donna said she believed contracting the virus left her with memory loss and “brain fog.”