A mother who thought she had the flu almost died after suffering a rare bacterial infection as a result of using tampons.

Deborah Usher, 27, from Porthmadog, Wales, became very ill and was rushed to hospital, where she was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome.

Doctors put her into an induced coma for a week, but when they failed to wake her twice, her family were told to prepare for the worst.

When she did regain consciousness she was 'like a child again', unable to talk, walk, wash or dress herself and struggled to recognise her family.

She also had severe memory loss, and she still forgets events just weeks after they happen, having no recollection of special events in her eight-year-old son Joshua's life.

Four years on, she has re-learned to walk and her memory is improving and she hopes she will remember Christmas this year.

Ms Usher, a hotel manager said: 'I'm hoping to remember all the special moments like my son unwrapping his presents, meeting Santa and putting a star on top of the tree for the first time.

'Since I woke from the coma four years ago I've struggled to remember Christmas since, and all the memories I had of it before have been wiped, the whole experience has been heart-breaking.

'I can't even remember the presents I've brought Joshua until he opens them. I can't remember him opening his presents or getting excited waiting for Santa to come.

'I have pictures of him with presents, and us decorating the tree together, but I don't remember them.'

She says Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which affects just 40 people a year in Britain, has severely affected her life, leaving her with amnesia, confusion and a weak immune system years later.

'TSS has completely taken over my life, it's like having a permanent hangover every day where you have memory blanks and your head feels funny,' she said.

'We celebrated Joshua's eighth birthday in September and I can still remember it three months on which is a huge achievement.

'So now I'm hoping I can finally remember our first Christmas, rather than having to rely on photographs and other people's memories.'

Ms Usher's ordeal began in August 2011, when she came down with what the thought was flu.

Within days she was rushed to intensive care after her condition deteriorated - leaving her unable to talk or walk properly.

She was put into an induced coma for a week, and after failing to wake her twice, doctors prepared her family for the worst.

Miss Usher said: 'The whole experience is a complete blur for me, when I try to remember I just have flashbacks.

'I was on life support and it really was touch and go as to whether I would pull through.

'My mum refused to take any photos of me in hospital as she didn't want them to be the last photos she ever took of me.

'She told me afterwards that every night she would think about my funeral in her head as she was so convinced that I'd never wake up again.'

When Miss Usher woke from the coma she was left unable to talk, walk, wash, dress or feed herself.

After two months, her hair began to fall out.

She said: 'It was the most terrifying experience of my life, every day felt like a nightmare which would never end.

'When I woke up I had no idea where I was or why I was there, I was like a child again.

'I struggled to remember people's faces, I still do, and I get déjà vu when I visit places as I recognise them but don't ever remember ever being there.'

A CT scan had revealed a large cyst on her ovary, so she had an emergency operation to remove the cyst, her ovary and fallopian tube. 

'I remember panicking about what had happened to my stomach when I woke up.'

After two months, she was able to walk again, with her loved ones' help.

She said: 'My family had to help me do everything, I can't thank them enough.

'But I was determined to get better for Joshua, he's my world and he needed his mummy back.'

Miss Usher had been using super plus strength tampons throughout her whole period - which is believed to be the cause of the disease.

Now she's vowing to never use them again.

'Toxic Shock Syndrome is very rare, especially with tampons but no-one warns you about the dangers of using them,' she said.

'Somehow there must have been a slight tear and the toxins got into my bloodstream, I was so lucky to be alive.

'I would never use them again after I know what I do now, they've completely ruined my life.

'Four years on and I still have a weak immune system, I don't think some of my memories will ever come back.'

However, she says every day she remembers more and is getting stronger.

She said: 'Now I'm concentrating on my son, he's the most important person in the world to me and I fought so hard because of him.

'I'm hoping this Christmas will be one to remember.'