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| Birmingham teen passes GCSEs despite brain tumour diagnosis | Birmingham teen passes GCSEs despite brain tumour diagnosis |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Honey Ibbitson, pictured with mum Julie Ibbitson, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour at 10 years old. | Honey Ibbitson, pictured with mum Julie Ibbitson, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour at 10 years old. |
| Honey Ibbitson was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. | Honey Ibbitson was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. |
| It came years after doctors dismissed the discomfort in the Birmingham teenager's legs as growing pains. | |
| Five years on, and despite missing lots of school due to her cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst, she is among the thousands of students to open their GCSE results. | Five years on, and despite missing lots of school due to her cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst, she is among the thousands of students to open their GCSE results. |
| After post-exam surgery a little over a week ago, Honey learned on Thursday she had passed all her subjects. She is now set on studying education, in the hope of becoming a primary school teacher. | After post-exam surgery a little over a week ago, Honey learned on Thursday she had passed all her subjects. She is now set on studying education, in the hope of becoming a primary school teacher. |
| Honey, 16, was diagnosed in 2019 and was told the mass on her brain had likely been there since she was in the womb. | Honey, 16, was diagnosed in 2019 and was told the mass on her brain had likely been there since she was in the womb. |
| Mum Julie Ibbitson, said doctors had been doing tests to find the cause of her pains since the age of six. | Mum Julie Ibbitson, said doctors had been doing tests to find the cause of her pains since the age of six. |
| "They said [the pains] were completely normal for her age," she told the BBC. "It got to the point where Honey was limping because to walk was too painful at times. | "They said [the pains] were completely normal for her age," she told the BBC. "It got to the point where Honey was limping because to walk was too painful at times. |
| "My mother's instinct was telling me there was more to it. | "My mother's instinct was telling me there was more to it. |
| "I pushed for a referral to the hospital, but never expected to be told that Honey had something growing in her brain." | "I pushed for a referral to the hospital, but never expected to be told that Honey had something growing in her brain." |
| Honey underwent a 12-hour operation in November 2023 but it was cut short due to a bleed. | Honey underwent a 12-hour operation in November 2023 but it was cut short due to a bleed. |
| The student at John Henry Newman Catholic College missed nine weeks of school and was failing all subjects in her January mocks before rallying in the proper exams in June. | The student at John Henry Newman Catholic College missed nine weeks of school and was failing all subjects in her January mocks before rallying in the proper exams in June. |
| Eight days ago, the teenager faced a second operation to remove more of the mass. | Eight days ago, the teenager faced a second operation to remove more of the mass. |
| 'Formidable young lady' | 'Formidable young lady' |
| Teachers at Honey's school said her work ethic and determination was an inspiration to all students. | Teachers at Honey's school said her work ethic and determination was an inspiration to all students. |
| Caroline Burke, head of English, said: "I'm exceptionally proud of Honey. She's a formidable young lady, she's overcome such obstacles and she's worked really hard. | Caroline Burke, head of English, said: "I'm exceptionally proud of Honey. She's a formidable young lady, she's overcome such obstacles and she's worked really hard. |
| "She's got the resilience that I don't think many adults have, to be honest." | "She's got the resilience that I don't think many adults have, to be honest." |
| Honey's mum said her journey over the last few years had been difficult. | Honey's mum said her journey over the last few years had been difficult. |
| She said: "[She was] able to turn it around and still get the passes and celebrate in style like everyone else." | She said: "[She was] able to turn it around and still get the passes and celebrate in style like everyone else." |
| Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |