News release: Mum who "should have died" celebrates graduation

Abstract

A Blackburn mother who suffered horrific injuries in a road accident in February this year
beat all the odds not only to survive, but also to continue her nursing studies from her
hospital bed.
Last week, Rehana Patel, 31, received her Diploma in Nursing from the University of
Central Lancashire at the Faculty of Health graduation ceremony held at Preston
Guildhall. Her tutors at the University describe her as an amazing and inspirational
person.
Speaking just before the ceremony, Rehana said: "I'm so lucky to be here because I
should have died in the accident- even the doctors said so. But as soon as I could, I
wanted to get on with my course, even if it meant studying from my hospital bed."
Rehana suffered critical internal injuries in the accident and had to undergo emergency
surgery, after which she was unconscious for ten days. Husband Altaf said: "It was a
terrible time for the whole family and it took us a long time to come to terms with what
had happened. We were still trying to get over it when Rehana started talking about
completing her course!"
Rehana' s academic adviser at the University is Senior Lecturer Ian Stevenson from the
Department of Nursing. He visited Rehana several times in hospital and had many phone
conversations with Altaf. Ian said: "Rehana is a truly amazing woman and what she has
achieved is an inspiration to everyone. I have never seen such courage and determination
to succeed, and we are all very proud of her."
Other members of staff from the Department of Nursing, also paid tribute to Rehana at the
ceremony.
Rehana attended the graduation ceremony with husband Altaf, children Hennah 8 and
Mohammed 7, and her father and brother. She is now studying full-time at the University
of Central Lancashire for a degree in nursing.
10 December 2003
nr128kjf
-ends-