Danielle Campo McLeod says road to recovery is her 'new Olympics'

When she was a teenager, Danielle Campo McLeod was a Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder in swimming.Two decadeslater, she's beaten the odds once again after surviving near-fatal complications following the birth ofher daughter.

"It was really touch and go ...but I fought really hard to stay here," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"I just knew I havemore work to do, and more to give back to our community."

Campo McLeodgave birth toher daughter, Morgan, by caesarian section on Aug. 17, at Windsor Regional Hospital.

They were bothhealthybutCampo McLeodhad toundergo surgery abouta week later for a bowel obstruction.

She developed pneumonia andlaterwent intoseptic shock and needed emergency surgery. Eventually, she was airlifted toUniversity Hospital in London.

"There wasthree times that they let my entire family in a room together and said, you know, 'we're trying everything,'" she told CBC Radio's Windsor Morning fromhospital, where she remains in recovery.

She really only remembers having the baby and then waking up in London.

"I don'thave a lot of memories of Morgan, so I will make new ones," she said.

Campo McLeod, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophyat the age of two, won seven medals representing Canada at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.

She also won multipleworld championship gold medals and set world records.

Last year, she received a new diagnosis ofcongenital myasthenic syndrome. She started on a new medication that made her feel like she hada "brand new body."

'This is my new Olympics'

But now, she has to re-learn how to do everything, with along road of physiotherapy ahead.

She's had four abdominal surgeries and has an ileostomy bag. She said hercore is weak and she cannot sit up, but she's getting strongerevery day and challenging herself to take more steps.

WATCH: Campo McLeod is working hard to get better:

Windsor Paralympian determined to make a full recovery.

3 years ago

Duration 0:47

In true Olympian fashion, Danielle Campo McLeod says nothing will stop her from fighting to make a full recovery.

Her goal is to be walking by Christmas.

"I know it's going to be a lot of workbut this is my new Olympics, this is my new gold medal and world record is to get that body where it was," she said.

LISTEN | Hear more from Campo McLeod speaking with Windsor Morning, from her hospital recovery bed: