The one lesson I’ve learned from life

Presenter Lisa Snowdon

spotted by a model scout at 19, Lisa snowdon went on to become a presenter for Britain’s next top Model and one-time girlfriend to George Clooney. Last year she took part in i’m a Celebrity… now 45, Lisa designs jewellery and lives in essex with fiancé George smart, 38.

MENINGITIS MADE ME VALUE MY HEALTH

From the moment I woke up, I knew something was wrong. I had a blinding pain in my head, a piercing feeling like I’d never experienced before. It was a Saturday morning in october 2010. I’d been out for a steak and a bottle of red wine with a friend the night before, but it hadn’t been a crazy night — nothing to justify this kind of hangover.

So I ignored it. I took some painkillers and went back to sleep.

I carried on ignoring it for the next three weeks. I dosed myself up and pushed through it, even though with hindsight the pain was clearly telling me to stop.

But I was too busy for that. I was cohosting a breakfast show at Capital radio so I hauled myself to work no matter how groggy, irritable and ill I felt, then went to the gym in the afternoon, where I’d ask my trainer to stretch my neck because it felt so stiff.

The moment the painkillers wore off, I was in agony. Still I ignored it.

Things came to a head in mid-November. It was an even busier time in the run-up to Christmas and I’d been asked to switch on the lights for Great ormond Street Hospital. I remember walking on stage but everything after that is a blur.

It was my sister who took me to a GP, who sent me straight to hospital, where viral meningitis was diagnosed. I’d had it for almost a month.

The lining of my brain was inflamed and swollen (as was my face) and my body was in a state of near-collapse. I spent a week in hospital. In fact, it took me almost a year to recover fully.

It was the wake-up call I needed and it changed my life. I decided to look after myself better. Now I take myself off to yoga retreats whenever I can.

Being so ill taught me never to ignore a strange new symptom, and that your health really is the most important thing of all.

Lisa snowdon’s next jewellery collection, exclusive to qvc.com, will be available from september 16.