A RECENTLY paralysed school head of year was inspired to leave hospital and graduate in front of her proud family in Nottingham last month.

Mother-of-three Tracy Hassell, from Uxbridge, was left paralysed on her right side after her spinal cord was traumatised during a routine neck operation more than four weeks ago.

Mrs Hassell, who is now confined to a wheelchair, left hospital for a day to graduate in a School Business Management qualification, issued by the Institute of Administrative Management and National College.

She said: “This has been a real thing to aim for. It was lovely to know I had a goal to get through.

“Even from the beginning, three days after waking up from my operation, I said ‘I’ve got to go to my graduation. It’s not going to stop me’. It kept me going.”

Mrs Hassell, who gets 15-20 visitors every day, left Hillingdon Hospital at 8.30am to attend the 1pm ceremony in Nottingham.

Nurses got her showered and into her suit. They also changed her jewellery and did her hair, so that she was ready to be gowned for the graduation.

She said: “They were absolutely amazing. Well they’re amazing every day.”

Doctors have yet to confirm what went wrong during the operation and the family do not yet know whether she will be able to walk again.

“It might come back. I just have to keep up positive thinking,” she added.

Her husband, ten-year-old son and parents watched as she graduated and secured her promotion from an HR manager to head of year overseeing 12 to 13-year-olds at Hewens College in Hayes.

Her tearful mother, Annette Kerrison, said: “I am just so proud of her, of what she’s achieved, battling on through it all. She’s been superb.”

The Hassell family aim to re-hire the gown and have a party at home with family and friends when Tracy is well enough to do so. Organisers of the graduation made changes to the day to accommodate Mrs Hassell.

Senior event manager Gary Dempsey said: “Obviously, when Tracy rang to let us know of her situation, we were touched. We did our best to make the day as special for her.”

More than 150 graduates attended the ceremony which honoured school business managers and senior administrators .