Inspiring! Paralysed Student Beats All Odds To Graduate From Newcastle University

Melanie Hartshorn, a 26-year-old student who suffers from a rare form of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)‌, has beaten all odds to obtain a Bsc Honours degree in Biology at Newcastle University, UK.

According to Mirror, Hartshorn had to attend her graduation ceremony on a stretcher because the EDS has left all her joints dislocated, especially those in her spine and neck.

With her head gradually sinking into her body, she has lived the past two years of her life lying down, as she can barely lift her head off her pillow without dislocating part of her body.

The young woman, however, remained undeterred and continued her studies despite having up to 40 seizures a day.

She admitted, “I did feel really sick but I was determined to get here. I had to split up my last year into sections when I was poorly. I was 21 when I started studying – it was meant to be a three year course. At first, I could go into classes sitting up in a wheelchair. I used to be in lectures from 9 am until 6 pm, go to the gym, even go out three times a week.

“But eventually I had to change from exams to assessments to be done at home. This last bit has been really hard – doing assessments in my bedroom with my back and neck dislocating all the time, running on no sleep but still trying to do the work.

Doctors gave the 26-year-old special permission to leave her hospital bed in order to attend the graduation, and her proud mother Molly, her aunt Sheila Dordery, sister Meryem Carson, three-year-old niece Katiya Carson and godmother Christine were there to celebrate with her.

Hartshorn said, “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. This brilliant day meant so much to me and I wanted to thank everyone who has helped me. The university provided fantastic support from my visiting day onwards.

“As my condition worsened, I needed multiple operations which prevented me from graduating with my colleagues. It also meant I had to sit my exams on a stretcher and to work on assignments from home. But everyone has been amazing and made my time here enjoyable and made graduation achievable, despite the extreme medical obstacles I have had to tackle.”

Hartshorn, who has been described as an inspiration by her tutors and fellow students, is the first in her family to gain a degree, Mirror reports.

Her proud mother said, “Melanie’s graduation means a lot to us. She didn’t give up even after she lost her ability to write and read, having to work on her assignments from memory. She’s been through so much. I’m really proud of her.”

Photo credit: PA