AN EARLSWOOD woman who survived a double organ transplant has realised her dream of starting her own business.
Juliet Fryer is helping the women of Reigate dress from the inside out at her newly opened Brewery Yard lingerie boutique All About You.
But it was a long journey for the 32-year-old, who three years ago underwent an eight-hour kidney and pancreas transplant.
Mrs Fryer, of St John's Road, fell ill in 2011, six months before her wedding. The diabetes she had lived with since the age of two resulted in chronic kidney failure because she was taking the wrong medication.
She said: "I didn't realise at the time how ill I was. I just got on with it. Looking back I was really quite unwell."
Doctors told Mrs Fryer her kidney function had dropped to 53 per cent and was "unlikely to improve".
In August that year, her blood sugar level fell so low she was put on dialysis, and had to visit hospital three times a week while holding down a job in insurance.
But she would not let the illness get her down. She said: "I'm not the sort of person to ever feel sorry for myself. It's all been a really positive experience and thinking positively has affected my health."
Following her recovery, Mrs Fryer put her efforts into making her mark in retail.
"I have always wanted to have my own business. I personally love lingerie. There's a very British thinking that you dress from the outside in, but I dress from the inside out."
After saving some money, and with help from her dad, Mrs Fryer found a shop in Reigate to transform into her dream store.
"I think it's what Reigate needs. It complements the lovely clothes shops that we have," she said.
"I worked in retail for years, then I got a grown-up job in insurance but I don't think I'm the kind of person who should be in an office. I'm too loud.
"I had some savings and I always look for properties on the internet that might be coming on for let. I found the right place and fell in love with it. I already had the business plan together."
The shop, which is being run by Mrs Fryer and her mum, while her dad deals with the accounts, opened its doors last Saturday.
Mrs Fryer said: "I was really excited and obviously really nervous. We didn't know how people were going to react, we didn't want to offend anyone.
"We've got lingerie on the mannequins in the windows but nothing risque. All the responses have been very positive."
She added: "Men like that it's off the High Street. If they want to buy their wife something, they don't feel too awkward. It's quite nice that we have done it as a family. They've been fantastic support."
