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While all this was happening I had exams to sit at school. I passed all my standard grades with credit but my guidance teacher told me it would be better for me if I left school and started work. I stayed on, but the school kept up the pressure to leave as they did not know what to do with me.
Disregarding their advice, I signed up for the World Challenge. I went with a group of people from the top 3 years of the school to Tanzania where I worked in an AIDS orphanage, trekked through mountains and went on safari. My proudest moment was climbing Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Africa – even though I didn’t make the true summit as altitude and syncope don’t seem to mix well! For the climb, I had a guide who made sure I was safe, but I carried my own equipment like everyone else on the team. After Meru we went on safari in Serengeti National Park where I celebrated my 18th birthday.
When I finally left school I was told I wouldn’t be able to go to university. I went to a technical college instead and studied for an HNC in biomedical sciences. The senior lecturer wrote an excellent reference and I was able to apply to university to study biology. I had a real low moment when I was refused biology with a teaching degree, despite having the proper grades, but I was accepted to study toxicology at Napier University in Edinburgh. After meeting the lecturers and university staff, I knew I would be happy there
A month before I was due to leave for university my sister found me unconscious on the kitchen floor. I appeared not to be breathing and had turned blue. She and my mum phoned for an ambulance. In the ambulance and at the hospital they could not get a normal ECG from me. My blood pressure was low and I was kept in until my heart went back to normal. Although this was scary, I was 18 and had different priorities! A week later, I was in Donnington at the download music festival with a group of friends. We had a great weekend listening to the music, shopping and just being part of the amazing atmosphere of the arenas. I met my favourite band and completely forgot about my syncope!
I was offered direct entry to second year, but I refused as I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. Instead I started off in first year, and after a few teething problems I settled right in. The student support team was brilliant: they made sure all the staff knew I could collapse and what to do if and when it happened. I provided them with literature from STARS, which they used to write my disability statement.
Currently, I’m in the second year of my degree and I recently passed my qualifying exam for teaching dance. I work part time in a local nightclub and the management team are very supportive. I had a rather horrible attack at work and I was admitted to hospital to recover. I still pass out maybe once or twice a week but it’s not as bad as it used to be and my cardiologist is happy with how things are progressing. I am reasonably independent, although I wear a MedicAlert pendant when I’m out and about. There is talk of fitting me with a pacemaker when I’m older but surgery is a daunting prospect and I’m quite happy plodding along with my tablets for now!
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