Terminally ill father sees daughter graduate early

A university has helped a student stage an early graduation ceremony to fulfil a wish that her terminally ill father see her complete her degree.

Danielle Keay, who studied adult nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, was due to graduate on Wednesday but organised the personal moment a week early so her father David could be present.

He was diagnosed with terminal cancer during her course and has been receiving end-of-life-care at home.

The university sourced a gown, mortarboard and scroll and arranged for her award to be presented to her when she was with her father and other family members.

After her father's diagnosis, Keay took time off from her degree, but after returning the university said she and her father "shared a simple but powerful goal: that he would see her graduate".

But as his health deteriorated and he was moved to end of life care at home, she realised he would not be able to attend the formal graduation ceremony and the university stepped in to help her arrange a ceremony at home.

"Danielle was able to create a beautiful memory with her dad, and they were both able to keep their promises to each other," senior lecturer in adult nursing, Helen Bowen, said.

"It was an absolute honour to be part of that moment and to support her at such an important and emotional time."

Speaking previously about the influence her father has had on her taking and completing the course, Keay said he always told her to never change and was the one who "fuelled my crazy spirit and believed in me when it felt like the world did not understand".

"This fire I have in me that pushes me to want more is because of you [Dad]."

She said she wanted to go on to learn more in the field of cancer treatment and the management of pain.

"Cancer pain management is something incredibly close to my heart, and one day I hope to contribute to the reduction in pain for both patients who live with brain cancer, and their families living with the pain from this awful disease.

"Dad, the only pain I wish for you to have in your life, for the rest of your life, is me. Just like it's been for the last 31 years."

Dr Rachel Morgan Guthrie, associate dean for students and education, said: "When everything feels hard, moments like this remind us why we do what we do.

"This was about compassion, care and humanity – values that sit at the heart of nursing and of our university."

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