Oxford uni student with artificial heart awarded MA posthumously

Rebecca Henderson, 24, has been awarded an MA degree posthumously (Picture: Facebook/PA)

A woman who defied..

By admin , in England , at May 25, 2019

Artificial heart girl awarded Oxford University MA degree — Rebecca Henderson, 24, has been awarded an MA degree posthumously (Picture: Facebook/PA)

A woman who defied the odds when she lost her heart to cancer and was given an artificial one has been awarded a Masters degree by Oxford University posthumously.

Rebecca Henderson, 24, from Bicester, Oxfordshire, had to have the vital organ removed in 2017 when she was found to have a spindle cell sarcoma in the right ventricle.

A groundbreaking surgery provided the student, whose nickname was Becca, with a Total Artificial Heart, which she carried around in a 7kg machine.

Becca returned to university in October last year and was told in January that she had been cancer-free for a year – meaning she could be finally be put on a waiting list for a new heart.

Girl who carried her heart in a rucksack has died Provider: Facebook/Becca Henderson Source: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.henderson.568/photos?lst=534420116%3A1517409010%3A1551440530 — She had to have her own heart removed after being diagnosed with cancer (Picture: Facebook/Becca Henderson)

Girl who carried her heart in a rucksack has died Provider: BBC Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-47401686 — She was one of only two people in the UK living with an artificial heart (Picture: BBC)

But transplant complications meant the English student tragically died in February at Harefield Hospital.

Oxford University said it would award her the MA as she had managed to complete most of her course at St Annes College.

Her mother Linda told the BBC she cried when she heard the news of her daughter, who achieved a BA degree in English and Modern Languages at the same college, being formally acknowledged for her work.

She described Becca as so brilliant academically.

File photo dated 20/03/14 of a sign for the University of Oxford. A ?sea change? in the University of Oxford?s admissions is expected with the launch of two schemes aimed at helping disadvantaged students. — The university said Becca had made enough progress for her to be awarded the degree (Picture: PA)

She said: Becca had actually booked her graduation slot before she went into hospital, so were still going on the same day and we will pick up her masters degree on her behalf.

The student was described by her tutors as a woman of extraordinary courage whose determination served as an inspiration for students and staffRead More – Source