Three years ago Summah Martin's life changed forever when she was involved in a serious crash which left her unable to walk for months.

While the recovery was hard, the Rotorua woman's a stronger, better person today than she ever was.

Summah Martin three years after her car crash. She is now expecting her first child.

"Because of my crash, my eyes have been opened. There is so much for us all to be grateful for in life. My legs, my family and even little things we take for granted like just being able to walk," she says.

Summah just after she arrived at the hospital, before she goes into surgery.

"It was just a normal day, and within a blink of an eye I could have lost it all. I look forward to everyday now and am so thankful for everything and everyone who helped me in this time."

Summah was driving home from Whakatane in the pouring rain when she drove around a right hand corner and lost control of her car.

She tried her best to gain control, but before she knew it, the sound of two cars colliding pierced her ears and she felt the force of impact smash into the right side of her body.

"I remember waking up to dead silence, I couldn't move. The lady in the car I collided with began to scream for help, I couldn't see her, but was grateful she was conscious.”

A group of people rushed to the scene from a factory across the road. There was a lady who stayed with Martin the whole time, called 111 and Martin's parents.

"Next the firemen turned up, blocked off the roads and attended to me and the other driver. I couldn't see my legs let alone feel them, as the whole front of my car was crushing them."

Summah by this time she'd come to terms that she didn't have legs anymore - this is what she believed at the time - and just had to concentrate on getting out of her car alive.

After 45 minutes the firemen managed to cut her out and she was taken to Whakatane Hospital where she went straight into surgery.

Summah broke her right femur, split both her legs open from the impact of the car crushing them, and broken her right wrist.

She had a metal rod placed in her femur and her wrist.

The driver of the other car was also brought to Whakatane Hospital and was discharged the same day with minor injures.

She discharged herself from hospital after three days as she just wanted to be in her own bed.

"The first week was so hard. I couldn't really move any part of my body so I couldn't shower or toilet alone.

"Even though I wouldn't walk for three months, I was so grateful for my wheelchair as I knew my situation could have been a lot worse.

"I got my mind set on getting myself healthy, and well enough to get ready for what I was going to do next in life, because luckily I still had mine. I couldn't wait to walk again. I had my eyes set on getting back into my high heels."

Summah's a safer driver now and always tells people to be careful when driving.

"I've been left with huge scars on my legs, but wouldn't change a thing. Three years later I'm getting ready to bring my first baby into the world and couldn't be more excited for my family's future.

"But I can imagine I will be a nervous wreck the day my son gets behind the wheel for the first time."