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Locked-in survivor to graduate in graphic design

 Clockwise from left: Leah Batchelor pictured before her devastating stroke, her rehabilitation and at home getting ready to graduate
 Clockwise from left: Leah Batchelor pictured before her devastating stroke, her rehabilitation and at home getting ready to graduate  Clockwise from left: Leah Batchelor pictured before her devastating stroke, her rehabilitation and at home getting ready to graduate

A WOMAN who recovered from locked-in syndrome is to graduate next week with a degree in graphic design.

At one point, Leah Batchelor gave permission with a blink - her only form of communication - to have her life support turned off in the event of suffering another stroke.

Yet next week she aims to walk onto a stage and receive her degree.

Four years ago, on the eve of sitting her final degree exams, the 21-year-old was busy doing a charity bag pack in a supermarket when she suffered a stroke so rare it affects one in 10 million people.

Within hours the 21-year-old Dundonald woman was on an a life support machine in the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast, with her family informed her chances of survival were slim.

It emerged Leah had experienced such an extreme brain stem stroke it resulted in her developing a devastating condition that paralysed her entire body - yet left her conscious and being aware of everything around her.

The only muscle she could move was her eyelids and doctors warned the previously happy-go-lucky student may never be able to walk, talk, eat or breathe again unaided.

She has just undergone an intensive fortnight's rehabilitation in a London clinic where she took "small steps" while aided.

"What I am really determined to do is to walk across that graduation stage next week with my mum by side and collect my degree certificate. I don't want to be in a wheelchair," she told the Irish News.