She revealed the six years as “the most dehumanising, devastating and humiliating moment” of her life.
Gemma Devine Pic: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals
Six years later, her diagnosis encouraged her to thrive both personally and professionally.
Gemma recently passed her Band 3 apprenticeship, with the help of her tutor, Aftab.
She said: “I know I’m different from everyone else – there is something wrong with my brain, which requires more one-on-one support.
“But now I feel like I’m cemented in my job and capable and competent – this is what I do every day.”
She mentioned how much happier she is as she now reflects on her tough journey and turns it into inspiration and giving back to the community.
Through being asked to talk to the young people of Lancashire through the King’s Trust, Gemma said: “When I started on the Prince’s Trust programme, I didn’t have that person to look up to in a similar situation to me, and if I can be that someone with a chronic illness, lacking confidence.
Following her personal growth progression, Gemma is now eyeing the next step in her career with an application to become a therapy assistant practitioner.
She added: “The world is my oyster; I have momentum and hopefully there are more opportunities to come.”
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