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Cancer survivor beats the odds to follow her dream
A YOUNG woman's dreams of becoming a nurse are finally coming true, thanks to her sister.
Kayley Brown was given just six months to live after being diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of eight.
A bone marrow transplant was her only hope of survival – and her younger sibling Kimberley was found to be a perfect match.
Kimberley agreed to be a donor and, thanks to her, Kayley made a full recovery, although she has faced other health problems.
Kayley, of Harton House Road, South Shields, suffers from Fanconi anaemia, a condition affecting the blood and bone marrow which caused her childhood cancer.
The 20-year-old also has epilepsy and an ectopic kidney, and she has suffered severe weight loss.
On top of that, she has problems with her knee joints and will need replacements at a later date.
That catalogue of health problems hasn't stopped her from pursuing a career in nursing, however.
Her choice of career was inspired by those who have cared for her over the years.
Kayley is on the first rung of the ladder after starting a progression diploma – equivalent to two and a half A-levels – at South Tyneside College after re-sitting her GCSEs.
The former Bamburgh School pupil overcame another health scare to collect Cs in English language, maths, biology and chemistry from the college this summer.
In February this year, she suffered a severe epileptic fit, which left her with stroke-like symptoms, including loss of speech.
She said: "My tutor didn't think I would pass my GCSEs because I couldn't speak for quite a few months.
"After one epileptic fit, I couldn't speak and was confined to a wheelchair, but I was determined to get the grades I needed.
"I am so happy. It's been a really hard year, but it's been worth it.
"I have always wanted to be a nurse, and now my dream is starting to come true.
"I didn't have the grades to get into nursing because I missed a lot of school through my illness, so I came to South Tyneside College to re-sit my GCSE's and got exactly what I needed.
"I have spent most of my life in and out of hospital and, after seeing all the nurses help me over the years, I knew it's what I wanted to do. Ideally, I'd love to be a paediatric oncologist."
Kimberley, of Biddick Hall, South Shields, couldn't be prouder of her sister.
The 19-year-old, a hairdressing and nail technology student, said: "I'm over the moon for her. It's about time something good happened to her.
"We are really close, and my daughter Ellie-Grace idolises her.
"I still suffer back problems from the transplant, but it's worth it."
Kayley added: "We are so close. The doctors said I had six months to live without a bone marrow transplant. Kimberley saved my life."
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
