She also placed in the IEB\u2019s top one per cent for Afrikaans.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Assumption Convent matrics end school career on a high<\/a><\/h4>\nKatie-Meg started her school career at Assumption Convent in Grade One in 2007.<\/p>
<\/div>\nHer family remembers clearly how impressed they were that there were wheelchair facilities at the school.<\/p>\n
Little did they know that they would require these facilities four years later as Katie-Meg would be wheelchair-bound with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.<\/p>\n
Her illness came with intense fatigue and nausea, as well as many painful joints.<\/p>\n
For four years she was immobile.<\/p>\n
Her parents had to turn her at night, take her to the toilet and cut up her food as the joints in her jaw had also been affected.<\/p>\n
She was unable to write, which came with its own set of academic challenges.<\/p>\n
Her treatment consisted of many medications, including a biologic, which is a form of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n
Added to this, she required weekly physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.<\/p>\n
As a result of the illness, she missed out on much of her Grade Five, Six and Seven years.<\/p>\n
Katie-Meg recalls the kindness and compassion of her teachers and classmates at Assumption Convent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne teacher even converted her storeroom into a room where I could rest,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
When asked how she managed to cope, she said that she always tried to focus on what she had rather than on what had been taken from her.<\/p>\n
Grade Eight was a turning point for her when, with the help of a medical team, she started to walk again.<\/p>\n
Life seemed to be returning to normal and then, in the third term of her Grade Eight year, she contracted tuberculosis as a result of her compromised immune system.<\/p>\n
She was weak and lost a lot of weight.<\/p>\n
Again, she missed out on the last term of school and had to self-study to pass the year-end examinations.<\/p>\n
Grades Nine to 11 were relatively straightforward, even though the doctors\u2019 appointments were still regular and the medication still a daily routine.<\/p>\n
She struggled with a slipped disc, which also required medical intervention.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0New leaders announced at Assumption Convent<\/a><\/h4>\nIt seemed that she was heading toward remission and she was achieving excellent results academically, despite the fact that she had missed out on basic foundational concepts.<\/p>\n
She rarely saw her challenges as stumbling blocks and chose to do nine subjects for matric.<\/p>\n
In her matric year, she was elected as deputy head girl, a true indication that she wasn\u2019t going to allow her past to determine her future.<\/p>\n
However, in May of her matric year (2018), Katie-Meg collapsed in her bedroom and fractured her skull.<\/p>\n
The CT scan revealed severe bruising and bleeding on the brain.<\/p>\n
Her brain functioning in terms of memory and concentration were severely compromised as she had sustained a grade four concussion.<\/p>\n
Once again, this was a major setback.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of August, she decided she would not be able to complete matric as she needed the time to allow her brain to recover.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most difficult decision I have ever made was to forego my matric as I would not be matriculating with my classmates, and university would be delayed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one positive thing is that I could do matric with my younger sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what her plans are for her future Katie-Meg explained she has always wanted to be a doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy path has not always turned out the way I have wanted it to, but I have learnt to trust my journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows, maybe it will take me longer to achieve my dream, just as matric took a little longer, or maybe my life\u2019s path will take me in another direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that whatever the future holds, Katie-Meg has developed the necessary resilience and sheer guts to not only navigate it, but to also navigate it successfully and graciously.<\/p>\n
Assumption Convent School\u2019s principal Neville Workman congratulated Katie-Meg on her 2019 matric results.<\/p>\n
\u201cKatie-Meg achieved an overall average of 81 per cent, this included 93 per cent for Afrikaans and 88 per cent for English,\u201d said Workman.<\/p>\n
\u201cKatie-Meg epitomises true courage and generosity of spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has left a very special legacy at Assumption Convent School.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nAlso follow us on:<\/p>\n
Her family remembers clearly how impressed they were that there were wheelchair facilities at the school.<\/p>\n
Little did they know that they would require these facilities four years later as Katie-Meg would be wheelchair-bound with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.<\/p>\n
Her illness came with intense fatigue and nausea, as well as many painful joints.<\/p>\n
For four years she was immobile.<\/p>\n
Her parents had to turn her at night, take her to the toilet and cut up her food as the joints in her jaw had also been affected.<\/p>\n
She was unable to write, which came with its own set of academic challenges.<\/p>\n
Her treatment consisted of many medications, including a biologic, which is a form of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n
Added to this, she required weekly physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.<\/p>\n
As a result of the illness, she missed out on much of her Grade Five, Six and Seven years.<\/p>\n
Katie-Meg recalls the kindness and compassion of her teachers and classmates at Assumption Convent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne teacher even converted her storeroom into a room where I could rest,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
When asked how she managed to cope, she said that she always tried to focus on what she had rather than on what had been taken from her.<\/p>\n
Grade Eight was a turning point for her when, with the help of a medical team, she started to walk again.<\/p>\n
Life seemed to be returning to normal and then, in the third term of her Grade Eight year, she contracted tuberculosis as a result of her compromised immune system.<\/p>\n
She was weak and lost a lot of weight.<\/p>\n
Again, she missed out on the last term of school and had to self-study to pass the year-end examinations.<\/p>\n
Grades Nine to 11 were relatively straightforward, even though the doctors\u2019 appointments were still regular and the medication still a daily routine.<\/p>\n
She struggled with a slipped disc, which also required medical intervention.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0New leaders announced at Assumption Convent<\/a><\/h4>\nIt seemed that she was heading toward remission and she was achieving excellent results academically, despite the fact that she had missed out on basic foundational concepts.<\/p>\n
She rarely saw her challenges as stumbling blocks and chose to do nine subjects for matric.<\/p>\n
In her matric year, she was elected as deputy head girl, a true indication that she wasn\u2019t going to allow her past to determine her future.<\/p>\n
However, in May of her matric year (2018), Katie-Meg collapsed in her bedroom and fractured her skull.<\/p>\n
The CT scan revealed severe bruising and bleeding on the brain.<\/p>\n
Her brain functioning in terms of memory and concentration were severely compromised as she had sustained a grade four concussion.<\/p>\n
Once again, this was a major setback.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of August, she decided she would not be able to complete matric as she needed the time to allow her brain to recover.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most difficult decision I have ever made was to forego my matric as I would not be matriculating with my classmates, and university would be delayed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one positive thing is that I could do matric with my younger sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what her plans are for her future Katie-Meg explained she has always wanted to be a doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy path has not always turned out the way I have wanted it to, but I have learnt to trust my journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows, maybe it will take me longer to achieve my dream, just as matric took a little longer, or maybe my life\u2019s path will take me in another direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that whatever the future holds, Katie-Meg has developed the necessary resilience and sheer guts to not only navigate it, but to also navigate it successfully and graciously.<\/p>\n
Assumption Convent School\u2019s principal Neville Workman congratulated Katie-Meg on her 2019 matric results.<\/p>\n
\u201cKatie-Meg achieved an overall average of 81 per cent, this included 93 per cent for Afrikaans and 88 per cent for English,\u201d said Workman.<\/p>\n
\u201cKatie-Meg epitomises true courage and generosity of spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has left a very special legacy at Assumption Convent School.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nAlso follow us on:<\/p>\n
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Facebook.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Twitter.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Instagram.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/youtube.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Newsletter.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n