Amanda was studying at another New Zealand university when she had a brain aneurysm rupture and ended up in a coma, then hospitalised for five months. After having many brain surgeries and undertaking rehabilitation—learning how to walk, talk and do basic everyday tasks again—she surprised her neurosurgeon and family when she told them she wanted to go back to university.
“My neurosurgeon asked if I was serious. I'll never forget his face when I said it. ‘You’ve just had so many surgeries!’ he said’”.
Despite the initial shock, she and her neurosurgeon agreed she could do one paper a trimester, and she began studying her Bachelor of Science part time at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
She chose Te Herenga Waka for the course options, support services for students with disabilities, and so she could live at home with her family in Wellington.
When she first met with Te Amaru—Disability Services, she was surprised at how quick they were to offer a range of support options for her. “There's not many places you go, where they'll promise you the world, and then deliver.”
Disability Services delivered for her, offering many support options, such as advice and liaison with academic staff, an Access Suite in the library where she could study quietly or have a nap, advice about accessible routes around campus, and equipment to be able to safely use her lab.
When she was on campus, she used a walking stick to get around for the first few years, and often experienced extreme fatigue. “I was a bit terrified, but I was so confident in Disability Services and the support that Victoria could offer me.”
Along with help from Disability Services, she also enjoyed Paw Therapy, the therapy dogs that regularly come into The Bubble. This was particularly special for her as she first woke up from her coma in ICU when a nurse put her hand on a Canine Friends dog named Oxford.
“It's just that silent support,” she reflects. “The animals don't really understand what you've been through, but they're still there. There’s something comforting about that”.
Amanda also found her lecturers and peers to be extremely kind and supportive during her time at the University. It was daunting for her to navigate recovery while studying, but she said that no one ever made her feel out of place.
“You come to Victoria and everyone's very much in the same boat,” she explains. “We were all just trying to learn and trying to pass the test, and everyone's incredibly non-judgmental.”
When she achieved her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in four years, she took the plunge and began studying her Master of Science full time in 2022. It was at this point that she started to feel more confident in her abilities.
“When I started postgraduate study, I realised for the first time in five years that I think I'm going to pull through this,” she explains. “I think I'm going to be okay.”
Amanda was juggling her courses, ongoing rehabilitation, and many health appointments throughout her entire studies. Whenever she felt overwhelmed and frustrated with her recovery, her neurologist would remind her of how far she’d come.
He told her, “You're doing all this work and that's amazing. As busy as you are or however stressed you may feel, just be kind to yourself.”
Now that Amanda is about to graduate, she is taking a well-deserved break before she starts job hunting next year.
When she reflects on how it feels to be graduating from Te Herenga Waka, she describes it as ‘bittersweet,’ as the University was the place she went to relax and escape from her rehabilitation back at home.
“I always called this place my little sanctuary because at home, I was rehabbing,” she explains. “But university was very much my safe haven because the focus here is learning and it's curiosity and enthusiasm for whatever you're doing.”