Nicki Donnelly (born November 1982) served as a West Midlands Police Officer for nearly ten years after her 18th birthday. She was training within the Specialised Firearms Department when she was involved in a road traffic collision. In 2009 Nicki was severely assaulted on duty and, in a separate incident, was hit by a speeding car and then subsequently attacked.
Nicki sustained a host of injuries that led to two years living in brain and spinal injury specialist hospitals away from her daughter. Nicki fractured her shoulder, eye socket, collar bone, suffered a broken back, hip, pelvic, fractured wrist and jaw. She was unable to communicate as her speech muscles were damaged and her arms were fractured. She also lost her hair and her body wasted away.
Nicki also has brain damage. Over time following the accident, treatments weren’t working and rehabilitation in hospital was proving unsuccessful and she needed full time care to be fed, washed, dressed and bladder and bowel management. Medical professionals had informed Nicki and her family that her body was literally wasting away and the likelihood of surviving was slim. She nearly died until her daughter reminded her that her love and bond was and is powerful and nothing would change her Mum being her Mum.
Ultimately Nicki was left paralysed from the chest down with limited function in her fingers and hands with t4 complete. Following the incident, she was retired from the West Midlands Police Force with six bravery commendations and received a medal of exemplary for having served her country.
Tired of being treated as irrelevant and insignificant, being turned down at interviews because she was over qualified and being told that they couldn’t accommodate ‘disabled person or a wheelchair’ she decided to branch out on her own. Nicki soon learnt she had to start her own capaigning business in order to keep working. Nicki started gathering thousands of supporters across her social media where she shared her journey for her fight to be accepted as a mother with disabilities who could be a role model.
She began fighting for her disability rights and freedom of speech for society to make the changes to include people with disabilities. Nicki became one of the most influential voices for the 13.5 million people with disabilities in the UK. She used her police identity as her strength to remind herself she was and is capable of being more than what society sees her as .. a barrier. Nicki’s story started generating interest in local papers, TV stations such as Lorraine, This Morning, Channel 5, BBC1 as well as public figures.
Nicki also started modelling to raise awareness for disabilities and diversities because she saw first hand the difficulties of the fashion industry’s attitude towards people like herself. She found she was not represented in a true light and decided to do modelling as a way of being taken seriously. This is something she still does and works as a freelance model often booked by high profile clients.
Winner: Mrs. British Empire
Today, Nicki works tirelessly fundraising to promote a positive image and to raise awareness of spinal cord injury. She also works on several initiatives for disabled people. She supports many organisations including Disabled Police Association, Police Federation, Models of Diversity, Spinal Injuries Association and HMSA/EDS which is personal to her daughter’s disabilities.
For more information why not visit Nicki’s website
After losing her financial security as a Police Officer Nicki sometimes struggles but keeps motivated by reminding herself, “I’m alive and I have the ability to make a difference and help others through my motivational speaking.” – and to book her for modelling and motivational speaking click here or email her at: booknickidonnelly@gmail.com
She says that, “God gave me my voice back. That he gave me life’s adversities to share and inspire others to do more and be better human beings.”
She also has her own funding page which she says, “Helps my quality of life and for the medical funds she needs – a page written by her daughter. Click here