I was pregnant & £17k in debt when I discovered my man was cheating – now my business is worth £150k

ELENA Ermakova, 40, is the founder of a courier company and lives in Surrey with her son Nikita, 12, and daughter Sofia, 10.

Here Elena reveals how heartbreak and adversity can be the beginning of something incredible. . .

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“Saying my vows felt like a dream.

I saw the happy years ahead of me with the man I loved by my side.

I felt so lucky.

I had no idea that within five years my marriage would be in tatters, leaving me alone, scared, pregnant and in debt.

Or that this exact moment would be the turning point for financial success.

I met Jacob* in July 2004, when I was 20 and had moved to London to study economics.

We lived in a shared house together and I found him smart and good-looking.

We soon fell in love.

‘Filled our lives with joy’

In early 2007, I got a job as a PA.

I liked it, but dealing with problem deliveries was a nightmare, which is why I decided to start my own courier company.

I left my job and took out a £10,000 bank loan to buy some vehicles. It sounds mad, but I’d always been ambitious, and it quickly took off.

Jacob and I got engaged later that year, and by then I was so busy with the business that he came on board to help me.

In May 2008, we married in front of 30 friends and family.

Our beautiful son Nikita was born that September. We were shocked to discover that he had Down’s syndrome.

We discovered I was pregnant in January 2012, but I didn’t rest – I was even making work calls during my contractions.

Our beautiful son Nikita was born that September.

We were shocked to discover that he had Down’s syndrome, which hadn’t shown up on any scans.

In the early months, it brought challenges, but Nikita filled our lives with joy.

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I thought Jacob and I were a team.

We had big plans for the future, and we even started trying for another baby.

Then in June 2013, I saw a message pop up on his phone that said: ‘Thank you for a wonderful night.’

I felt sick.

When I confronted him, Jacob didn’t deny it, and simply got up and left.

Two weeks later, I was alone and heartbroken, knowing my marriage was over.

‘Facing £17,000 debt’

That’s when I discovered I was four weeks pregnant.

The emotional turmoil of single parenthood to a son who needed extra care, a baby on the way and a divorce was a perfect storm.

I was also facing £17,000 of business debt.

I struggled to get out of bed for two weeks, but I refused to let it break me.

I focused on rebuilding my life and found a small flat to rent.

 I want to inspire other women going through financial struggles after a break-up.

When Sofia was born in January 2014, I promised I was going to make a wonderful life for us.

And I’ve done it.

After putting everything I had into growing the business and paying off the debt, Selena Courier Service now has an annual turnover of £150,000 and we live in a beautiful four-bed house.

I’ve also been in a new relationship for the past two years.

I want to inspire other women going through financial struggles after a break-up.

Sometimes, the toughest moments in life push you to discover how resilient you truly are.”

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