A Birmingham student, whose study was cut short after he developed a potentially fatal brain condition, graduated at a special degree ceremony just for him yesterday.
James Greenberry was in the final year of a four-year course in managerial and administrative studies at Aston University when he became ill in October 2002.
He needed a total of 17 operations on his brain and spent 20 consecutive months in hospital before being
discharged. The condition called hydrocephalus - which literally means "water on the brain" - had to be treated by fitting an artificial valve into
James' head. Though he missed his final exams, the 24-year-old was awarded a 2.1 degree by Aston University based on the strength of his course work.
About 50 of his student friends and close family gathered at the university yesterday to pay tribute to his remarkable achievement.
