When Laura Nuttall received her fatal brain cancer diagnosis at the age of 18, doctors gave her only 12 months to live. After an eye examination, the young person from Barrowford in Lancashire was identified as having the aggressive malignancy glioblastoma multiforme. She discovered she had malignancies in 2018 and was forced to stop attending university in London while receiving treatment.
Her life was altered when her family learned that a novel medicine that utilized immunotherapy was accessible in Germany. Despite being given only a year to live in 2018, the now-22-year-old graduated from The University of Manchester with a 2:1 degree in politics, philosophy, and economics. She had originally enrolled at Kings College in London, but she later switched to The University of Manchester since it was closer to her family.
Nuttall called the memorable event “quite amazing.” Her physicians informed her that she would never, ever return to school. She never imagined she’d graduate, but here she is at last, she added. In her first year, she wasn’t sure whether she would be able to graduate, let alone obtain a 2:1, the student said.
Her family is really proud of her. According to her mother Nicola, Laura was told she had a life expectancy of around a year and wouldn’t be going back to university at all, so to see her graduate is absolutely fantastic. This day is a genuine celebration of her resilience. The mother understands how hard she’s worked to obtain her degree alongside her chemotherapy, surgery, and treatment.
Nuttall intends to keep raising money for organisations that support people with brain disorders and spreading awareness about these issues. She works with the nonprofit organization Our Brain Bank to make glioblastoma curable rather than deadly. The Brain Tumour Charity appointed Nuttall as an ambassador. She spoke of her graduation and expressed gratitude to her university for their assistance.
Without the assistance and support offered by The University of Manchester, particularly the student welfare staff, she doesn’t believe she would have been able to earn her degree. Professor Jackie Carter, who also has a kid with an incurable brain tumor, said he has encountered very few individuals with such a drive to live their lives to the full.
Laura very literally doesn’t know what her future holds, in contrast to the majority of his students who are considering their options. Nevertheless, she is tackling her challenges head-on and doing so with a zest that is evident from the moment you first meet her.
In 2018, Laura Nuttall discovered she had Glioblastoma Multiforme – an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer.
— The University of Manchester (@OfficialUoM) July 19, 2022
Yesterday, she celebrated her graduation at The University of Manchester with her family. Congratulations Laura, what an achievement! pic.twitter.com/IuxjnkMU4g
