A recently paralysed college Head of Year was inspired out of hospital to graduate in the CSBM qualification at the IAM ceremony on the 22nd October.
Mother-of-three, Tracy Hassell, was left paralysed on her right side after her spinal cord was traumatised during a routine neck operation five weeks ago. (As of 22/11).
Tracy bravely left hospital for a day to graduate in front of her proud family.
She said: “This has been a real something to aim for. It was lovely to know I had a goal to get through. Even from the beginning, three days after waking up from my operation I said ‘I’ve got to go to my Graduation’. It’s not going to stop me. It kept me going.”
Tracy, who gets fifteen to twenty hospital visits every day, left an Uxbridge hospital at 8:30am to attend the 1:00pm ceremony at the Learning and Conference Centre, at the National College, in Nottingham.
Nurses got her showered and into her suit. They also changed her jewellery and did her hair so that she was ready to be gowned for the graduation.
She said: “They were absolutely amazing today. Well they’re amazing every day.”
Doctors have yet to confirm what went wrong during the operation and the family do not yet know whether she will be able to walk again.
“It might come back. I just have to keep up positive thinking,” she added.
Her husband, ten-year-old son and parents watched Mrs Hassell collect her scroll from the Institute’s dignitaries. The CSBM qualification had secured her promotion from a HR Manager to Head of Year overseeing twelve to fourteen-year-olds at Hewens College in Uxbridge. She loves her job and said she listens and emphasise with the children she oversees.
Her love for the job could even see her as a potential councillor in the future to help children who require special attention.
Tracy’s tearful mother, Annette Kerrison, swelled with pride. She said: “Today’s been absolutely fantastic. She’s achieved this through everything. I am just so proud of her. So proud of what she’s achieved, battling on through it all. She’s been so superb.”
The family were unable to celebrate with a meal and party, as intended. Tracy felt she had done as much as she could, before having to return to hospital. The Hassell family vow to re-hire the gown and have a party at home with family and friends when Tracy is well enough to do so.
Her older children, aged twenty-one and sixteen, were unable to attend the ceremony but had bestowed their mother with messages.
School Business Managers were given the chance to graduate after the IAM took sole responsibility for hosting Graduations after the National College were forced to cancel their future ceremonies due to funding cuts.
Chief Executive of the IAM, Jenny Hewell, said: “It is an enormous pleasure to be able to formally recognise Tracy today as having graduating with a Certificate in School Business Management. We wish her well in the future.”
