Missing weeks of school after a back operation isn’t the best preparation for your GCSE exams.
But two Newham schoolgirls were determined not to let their scoliosis stop them from achieving top grades.
Crystal Trinh was overcome with emotion as she opened her golden envelope at Sarah Bonnell School.
The 15-year-old, who achieved two A*s, seven As and a B, had missed most of the autumn term as a result of the operation.
“It was really hard to catch up,” she said.
“I felt like I was falling behind a lot.”
She was accompanied to the Deanery Road school by her proud parents and two younger siblings, who supported her with her revision.
Crystal, from East Ham, now hopes to go to the London Academy of Excellence to study biology, chemistry, physics and geography.
Forest Gate Community School student Tayjorn Alleyne was off school for two months following her operation.
“I missed my mocks, as I wasn’t really well enough to come in,” she said.
The 16-year-old, who lives in Forest Gate, was “really pleased” with her two A*s, five As and four Bs.
She said: “I was in so much pain after the operation and studying was the last thing I felt like doing.
“When I came back I worked really hard.
“My teachers have been so supportive and encouraging and really helped me, especially with maths.”
Tayjorn, who aspires to study law at university, will be going to Harris Westminster to study English literature, biology, chemistry and economics.
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