A SERIOUSLY ill student who was forced to take her exams in hospital while undergoing blood transfusions was celebrating last night after passing seven GCSEs to win a place at college.

Staff at Haughton Academy, in Darlington, drove exam papers to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) where student Reanna Martin was undergoing complicated bowel surgery.

The 16-year-old collapsed while visiting Beamish Museum just before she was due to sit her exams and was rushed into hospital with severe anaemia.

She underwent several blood transfusions and tests revealed she was suffering from ulcerative colitis, a dangerous long-term condition that inflames the bowel.

The condition was so severe that she had to have her large bowel removed and she was also diagnosed a coeliac, and must now eat gluten-free food.

Future treatment will also see surgeons replace a temporary stoma with a J-pouch, made from the end of the small bowel to replace the function of the affected large bowel.

During another blood transfusion the teenager sat a maths exam and overall managed to secure seven GCSEs including maths and English.

Her efforts have secured her a place at Stockton Riverside College to study Aviation Level 3 with a view to becoming cabin crew.

“I was shocked at how well I did and am really excited because now I can train to be cabin crew,” she said.

“The school has been fantastic, driving up the exam papers for me in hospital and collecting them again. Now I have my results it has all been worth it.”

Deputy headteacher Steven Clough said: “When she was in school she always had a smile on her face; you would never have known how poorly she was.

“If ever a student deserved success it is Reanna and she remains an incredible role model for us all.”

Elsewhere in Darlington, student Hannah Wintle, 16, secured 11 GCSEs at A to C grade after undergoing a ten-hour operation, where £20,000 worth of titanium and cobalt rods and bolts were used to straighten her curved spine.

The Darlington School of Mathematics and Science pupil had more than two months off school and had to take her exams under the influence of strong painkillers including Tramadol and morphine after undergoing surgery.

She said: “I am over the moon. I thought I would flunk everything."