A STUDENT who took her exams in hospital while having a blood transfusion was celebrating yesterday after overcoming a serious illness to achieve her GCSEs.
Staff at Haughton Academy, Darlington, drove to Newcastle’s RVI Hospital where student Reanna Martin was undergoing complicated bowel surgery.
The 16-year-old collapsed while visiting Beamish Museum just before she was due to sit her exams and rushed into hospital with severe anaemia. Health staff took six attempts to take a blood sample and eventually had to use a premature baby needle.
She underwent several blood transfusions and tests revealed she was suffering from ulcerative colitis, a dangerous long-term condition that inflames the bowel.
The condition was so severe that she had to have her large bowel removed by surgery at the RVI, Newcastle.
She was also diagnosed a celiac and must now eat gluten-free food. Future treatment will also see surgeons replace a temporary stoma with a J-pouch, made from the end of the small bowel to replace the function of the affected large bowel.
During another blood transfusion the courageous teenager sat a maths exam and overall managed to secure seven GCSEs including maths and English.
Her efforts have secured her a place at Stockton Riverside College to study Aviation Level 3 with a view to becoming cabin crew.
“I was shocked at how well I did and am really excited because now I can train to be cabin crew,” she said. “We get to travel the world, to New York and Amsterdam, and have to learn how to escape from a plane under water.
“I have been in and out of hospital and have probably had the condition for two years. The school has been fantastic, driving up the exam papers for me in hospital and collecting them again. Now I have my results it has all been worth it.”
Deputy head teacher Steven Clough said: “When she was in school she always had a smile on her face; you would never have known how poorly she was. She was determined to take her exams so we sent a teaching assistant to the RVI with the papers so she could complete them.
“If ever a student deserved success it is Reanna and she remains an incredible role model for us all.”
When Jakub Pulawski joined the academy in Year 8 from his home in Poland he couldn’t speak any English. But the 16-year-old was thrilled yesterday to secure seven GCSEs and is now planning to go to Darlington College where he will study with the Martin Gray Football Academy.
“I didn’t want to come to England because of leaving my friends,” he said. “But I was persuaded by the chance to play football and am very pleased to be here as I now play centre back for Darlington.
“I would love to do as well as possible in football or might become a PE teacher one day. I couldn’t speak any English but had help from my Darlington friends and Haughton teachers. I was shocked to get an A* in PE and a B in maths and was pleased to get an A* in Polish and a C in English.”
Mr Clough said: “Credit must go to Jakub as he really managed to turn around his studies in Year 11 and has been rewarded with some great grades.”
