AGAINST all odds

When JO GILLESPIE suffered a sudden & traumatic health setback, she thought her dreams of being a CND™ educator had been thwarted. Here, she shares her inspiring story…

I’m Jo Gillespie, a wife and mum of two, with two furry friends. I am the owner & proprietor of OJO’s Hair & Beauty in Weymouth, Dorset, and have been working in the industry and running my business for 20 years. In my spare time, I have enjoyed roles as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, and competing at Ironman 70.3 World Championships . My life has been a balance of working hard and playing hard – but in 2023, everything changed.

In January that year, my dream job: to be an educator for CND™, was advertised by the brand’s UK&I distributor, Sweet Squared. I had wanted the role since my first training session with Sweet Squared in 2024, and was sure that this was my time to shine. My children were of an age where they were less dependent on me and I had fewer time restrictions, so I sent my application letter and CV and awaited a response.

A few weeks passed and I received an email with requirements for a second recruitment stage: to produce a five-minute teaching video and 60-second nail demo on camera. While these tasks were out of my comfort zone as I wasn’t too adept with content creation, I sent the videos and was delighted to discover I had made it to a third phase. This involved answering in-depth questions via email, and I was informed that I was enrolled onto an online mentoring programme, with homework tasks, knowledge exams and extensive learning taking place every two weeks. It began with Shellac™, then worked through CND™’s nail systems and products over two months. This was in preparation for a two-day Bootcamp in Edinburgh.

OJO’S Hair & Beauty.

“I thought I would break under the pressure, but I was resilient and focused on turning my dream into reality.”

Jo with her husband, Neil, and their two sons.

Entering the unknown

Halfway through the programme, while I was away for a friend’s 60th birthday, I felt that something wasn’t right with my health. I was struck with terrible head pain, and nothing I was saying made sense. I considered that the causes may be travel sickness or a migraine, but I hadn’t suffered with either previously. I attended the celebrations while taking pain medication, then had a sleepless night of uncertainty. I woke early and felt the need to go home, and on the journey I started to feel worse. My husband, Neil, was due to leave for Poland the following morning on a work trip. He could see that I didn’t look well, and I began to feel tingling sensations in my left hand and on the left side of my face. This became progressively worse as I sat in the car, and a stabbing pain in my shoulder followed, so we drove to the hospital. I struggled to walk unaided to the entrance while Neil parked the car, and I can’t remember what happened next.

Neil has filled me in on what happened in the hours after our arrival. I was observed by nurses, who found that my blood pressure was high, my pulse was racing and my pupils were two different sizes. I was sweating and disorientated and was rushed to the closest A&E department. Neil shared that I was exhibiting stroke symptoms, and my condition deteriorated rapidly. On entering the emergency department, my legs gave way and I ended up in a heap on the floor. I was rushed for a CT scan to determine whether I was having a stroke, but the results were unclear. By this point, I had lost the use of my legs, was unable to speak and had been given medication to relieve the head pain.

Around 12 hours after attending the emergency department, and moved to a ward where I stayed in bed for 48 hours.

I was then taken to a stroke ward and visited by a speech therapist. I cried a lot, as the doctors still weren’t sure what was happening. I was helped out of bed, taken for showers and encouraged to move my legs. I walked slowly – but with a frame on wheels. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and couldn’t believe that less than a month before, I had run a marathon. I was a shadow of my former self.

I became increasingly upset and via pen and paper, spoke with a nurse who answered questions I had. My hospital stay had reached six days, and I could barely feel my feet, walk or talk. On day 10, I was allowed to leave, on the proviso that I would receive around-the-clock care.

Overcoming obstacles

Speech therapy and physiotherapy were scheduled several times weekly, and when I returned from hospital, I became aware that I hadn’t completed my latest homework for Sweet Squared. The next online class was two days later, so I read and completed the task, which was thankfully theory-based. Reading felt draining and I struggled to retain information, but I completed what was required. Neil set up a laptop and headphones next to the bed so I could listen to the class. There was no need for face-to-face communication at that stage, so no one knew what I was going through. I dreaded sending my Sweet Squared mentor an email explaining my situation, as I had the two-day Bootcamp in Edinburgh in the back of my mind. If I wanted to continue my journey to becoming an educator, I had to attend.

I spent days writing and re-writing the email, devastated that I wouldn’t be able to complete what would be required to become a CND™ educator. Tears kept flowing, but I received an amazing response from Sweet Squared. It detailed ways the team could help, and agreed that I could attend the Bootcamp with Neil’s support and assistance. I was ecstatic, and believe my healing journey began from the moment I opened the reply.

Opportunity knocks

Neil and I flew to Edinburgh and navigated our new way of life well, with little stress. Neil was amazing, as was the Sweet Squared team and fellow pros attending Bootcamp. I wanted to blend in and don’t like fuss, so made sure to share my situation immediately, allowing everyone to focus on the two-day event.

On my return from Edinburgh, homework, practical and theory homework resumed, alongside online mentoring. In December, I received an invite to attend a five-day Bootcamp at Sweet Squared’s head office in Leeds, commencing 21 January, and was so excited. I was determined to be more mobile and independent by then, so requested a seat and a walker with wheels from my physiotherapist.

The Christmas period came and went, and soon it was time for the second phase of Bootcamp. I used coping mechanisms from my physiotherapist, and my speech therapist helped with my online recordings to ensure they were as good as possible. Everyone at Bootcamp was so supportive, carrying cups of coffee for me and helping with various tasks. Without Neil present, I thought I would break under the pressure, but I was resilient and focused on turning my dream into reality.

Becoming a CND™ educator is an intense and precise process, and the hard work from the previous year culminated in the five-day Bootcamp. Hours of studying  helped me retain the information needed to complete the  final exam and practical session. The team that had been brought together by Sweet Squared were fabulous in so many ways: each boasting strengths that helped others to progress. The final day featured assessments, and everyone was nervous. We leant on each other at various points – from being a model and keeping one another relaxed and on schedule, to helping each other feel at ease. The work came down to the last exam, and I wondered whether I had retained all the information I had learned. I sat in the silent exam room sweating, and read the exam document numerous times. I answered all 100 questions and was the last to leave the room, but I had completed the assessment and could do no more.

“As an education ambassador, Jo has continued to inspire and uplift others, and her journey is a powerful testament to her strength and perseverance.”

A momentous achievement

A gala marked the end of the five-day event, and educator hopefuls got glammed up to attend. We were all apprehensive of our outcomes, but Samantha and Samuel Sweet, co-founders of Sweet Squared, revealed our fates: we had all passed the assessment and were officially CND™ educators for Sweet Squared! We felt privileged to be part of a very exclusive team, and I was awarded the Best Team Player accolade.

I was overwhelmed: I had achieved my dream, while those in the room had no idea that the educator process been such a massive part of my recovery.

“My career and clients keep me motivated and positive. I love what I do, and won’t let my diagnosis halt my progress.”

Adapting & thriving

I received a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND), and while I live a fairly normal life now, I don’t exercise as much as I used to, as fatigue can engulf me. Sometimes, getting out of bed and showering can be exhausting, but I’m learning to manage this and ensure that I don’t work for more than eight hours per week.

Neil and I have invested in a purpose-built room at the rear of my salon, and its disabled access means I can work from a wheelchair or a trolley with wheels. The large space doubles as a training area, where I offer CND™ training. FND means that my situation can change overnight, and I am monitored by a neurological team as I have little to no feeling below the knee. But my career and clients keep me motivated and positive. I love what I do, and won’t let my diagnosis halt my progress.

www.ojoshairandbeauty.co.uk /ojoshairandbeauty @ojoshairandbeauty_weymouth

Nataliya Al-ta’ai, senior CND™ education manager, EMEA & Asia, comments:

“Jo refused to allow her health challenges to impede her participation in CND™ Bootcamp, and she recognises it as a vital part of her recovery journey.

Jo’s positivity, support and nurturing spirit were evident in the lead-up to Bootcamp and throughout the event, and she was always present for her teammates, providing expert advice and guidance while leveraging her extensive experience.

“In the past year, Jo has made extraordinary progress in her recovery. As an education ambassador, she has continued to inspire and uplift others, and her journey is a powerful testament to her strength and perseverance. We are incredibly fortunate to have Jo on the CND™ EMEA & Asia team of education ambassadors. She inspires us all and has proven that against all odds, greatness can be achieved.”

Jo with CND™ education team members, Nataliya Al-ta’ai, Sarah Marr and Fee Wallace.

Sarah Marr, UK CND™ lead education ambassador, comments:

“Jo emailed me before the initial CND™ skills assessment in November 2023, detailing that she had suffered a potential stroke, was on crutches and her speech had been affected. She expressed passion for continuing with the programme and I thought she was incredibly brave. CND™ Bootcamp is notoriously challenging, even for attendees who don’t have the additional task of learning to walk again. I immediately agreed that she could join, and am so glad I did.

“Jo was a shining light of positivity, determination and passion throughout the entire process. She supported others, offered advice and guidance and shared her experiences. Jo never missed a deadline, call or mentoring session, despite undergoing several therapy sessions a week, and we knew she would be a fantastic educator from day one. Over the course of the last year, Jo has gone from strength to strength, not only in her personal recovery, but as a CND™ education ambassador. We were thrilled when she informed us that she was ready to offer in-person classes, as we know her students will learn so much from her. There really is no stopping this incredible and brave woman.”

“Over the course of the last year, Jo has gone from strength to strength, not only in her personal recovery, but as a CND™ education ambassador.”