An incoming medical student has secured a place at Cardiff University just weeks after undergoing brain surgery.
Isaac Manning, a student at Bournemouth School, achieved an A* and two As in his A-Levels, securing a place at Cardiff to study medicine.
Despite his impressive results, August 14th meant more than just grades to Isaac – it marked the end of a difficult period for his health.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Isaac became unwell with Lyme disease and suffered a stroke. Just weeks before collecting his exam results, he was undergoing a major surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Isaac told The Bournemouth Echo: “I’m a Christian, and I believe that God was there in that. Through all my medical stuff I’ve been through, myself as a patient, it’s really inspired me that I want to become a doctor. I’m an absolute science nerd.
“It has sort of been a bit of a rollercoaster of stuff I’ve been through, but I’m well now.”
Isaac’s first choice was Cambridge University, which he missed out on by just five marks. However, the school will be reviewing his results to see if this can be reconsidered.
Isaac’s place at Cardiff University still allows him the opportunity to study at one of the top universities in the UK: “I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, but I’m very, very grateful.”
Before the incoming student embarks on his adventure at university, he will be taking a gap year for recovery, alongside participating in a church internship. This includes a year studying a bible college course and pastoral care.
Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by ticks, can have long-lasting impacts for some people, including severe fatigue and aches that persist for years after treatment. Whilst the illness isn’t usually fatal, with most individuals recovering if treated quickly with antibiotics, the condition is becoming more common.
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