A 13-year-old boy from west Belfast was yesterday presented with a top GCSE Irish prize after achieving an A* grade during his battle with cancer.
Stephen Mac Brádaigh-Mag Fhinn received the top candidate certificate for GCSE Irish yesterday at a special event at his school, Coláiste Feirste.
He was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a brain tumour, in 2016, receiving much of his treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.
But the Lagmore schoolboy continued his studies and sat his GSCE Irish exam last summer, achieving an A* and one of the top marks in Northern Ireland - not only as a Year 9 pupil, but also during illness.
Unfortunately he missed the original CCEA ceremony to celebrate his success, as he attended hospital in Liverpool, but an event was held yesterday to honour his achievements, also coinciding with World Cancer Day.
His teacher Emer McNally said Stephen had fought a brave battle since his diagnosis.
"He was top of the class, very hard-working and was a keen sportsman, playing for Gort na Móna," she said.
"He went for surgery to remove the tumour, but as a result of the tumour or the surgery, his pituitary gland no longer functions.
"Stephen now has to take medication every day to regulate and replace the hormones in his body, if he doesn't he is at risk of adrenal crisis, which is life-threatening.
"He lives with this every day as well as the consequences of having a brain tumour, he is exhausted day and daily.
"Last year, the tumour came back and he had to go to Alder Hey for more treatment. There was a point the hospital felt it was beyond them and they were talking about him having to go to America or Europe - it was a very tentative time."
But Ms McNally said throughout his illness, Stephen was determined to continue his studies.
"He missed so much work in school during his illness, but he kept saying 'I want to do it, send me the work'," she said.
"Despite being sick and exhausted, he wanted to do the work and he did it."
He sat the GCSE exam last May, achieving CCEA top candidate in GCSE Irish after scoring an A*.
"Unfortunately the CCEA ceremony was in October when Stephen had to go back to Alder Hey," said Ms McNally.
"His classroom assistant Eimear Nic Roibeaird had contacted CCEA to tell them about the situation and it's wonderful CCEA came in today to present him with his certificate.
"We are so proud of him and delighted at what he has achieved."
Presenting the award, CCEA chief executive Justin Edwards said: "It's about what we can achieve in this world, it's about what we set our heart, our vision and our minds too.
"This young man has inspired me so it is with great delight that I had the opportunity to come and meet him today, but also to come and present him with this certificate."
