First class for battling Michaela

First class for battling Michaela

11 June 2014

A CROSSGAR student battling a progressive muscle wasting disease has beaten the odds to be awarded a First Class honours degree. Michaela Hollywood, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, achieved top marks in her public relations degree despite several bouts of ill health and periods of hospitalisation throughout her final year of study.

Michaela has battled impaired mobility and severe breathing trouble since she was diagnosed with the neuromuscular condition shortly after birth.

Despite the limits imposed by her condition, she studied in her hospital bed and crammed in 14 hours of study every day in the last few weeks of her degree to make sure she did as well as she possibly could.

Michaela yesterday said she was stunned to achieve a First Class result and said the achievement was particularly welcome as it coincided with her 24th birthday.

“It has been a very difficult year and since late last summer I have battled serious infections and have had periods of hospitalisation,” she said.

“Eventually I got wifi in my hospital room and tried to keep up with my studies but I found that I could not do as much as usual because I was not well enough.

“My mum, who is also my main carer, was also diagnosed with cancer, so it has been a tough time.”

Michaela is not planning to rest on her laurels following her impressive result and has already enrolled in a Masters Degree course in communications and PR and is hoping to specialise in political lobbying.

“I want to lobby on behalf of the 2,000 other people in Northern Ireland who have neuromuscular conditions and to fight for a dedicated nurse specialist for them,” she said.

“I want to help other people and change the medical situation for people with rare conditions in Northern Ireland to make their lives easier.”