Gaby's nursing ambition

A student at the Thomas Clarkson Academy is heading for a career in nursing thanks to her exam results, and the life-saving care she received when fighting cancer.

Gaby Maurice, 16, missed a large part of her education and had to undergo chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after her diagnosis in November 2021. She also had major surgery lasting 14 hours, and bravely donated her hair to make wigs for other cancer patients.

And now she wants to join the medical profession which looked after her, and is heading to college to start a nursing career.

“I want to do a T-Level in nursing which includes a year’s placement at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn,” she said on receiving her results.

Gaby was helped by the Thomas Clarkson community when a fundraising page was set-up to help ease the financial pressure her mum Olga was facing because of the situation and the academy hosted a whole week of events to boost the figures in 2022

“I am really happy with my results and nursing is something I really want to do,” she said. But there was no time to celebrate as she had to go to work in a local diner where she has a part-time job.

During her Year 9, a small bump on her cheek grew rapidly and was identified as a tumour which meant she spent a lot of time in hospital during a crucial time in her education. But she even chose her exam subjects carefully so she could work towards being a counsellor for young people in her situation.

Gaby will be joining the College of West Anglia to start her journey into the medical profession and said she was looking forward to her future role.