A university student who supported his daughter and wife through serious illness while he completed his degree has graduated.
Rory Timmins, 40, is a teaching assistant and had studied a one-year top-up degree in integrated working with children and families at the University of Worcester.
In 2023, his six-year-old daughter developed an autoimmune disorder, and was in hospital for some time. His wife also had a condition that was affecting her heart.
“It was a massive strain on my mental health, and it meant I had to step up a lot at home with my son because my wife was also in hospital, and I was doing that while working in the school and studying as well,” he said.
A student at the university for five years, Mr Timmins previously studied a three-year foundation degree in learning support at the university.
He split his top-up degree over two years to reduce pressure on the family.
However, while his daughter started to get better, his wife became ill.
“She had a condition affecting her heart which meant she was off work for some time, and it has meant lots of hospital visits,” he said.
“It was extremely challenging to study, be there for my wife, and look after my children,” he added.
His wife is now out of hospital and receiving care for her medical needs.
“My tutors at the university were fantastic – I couldn’t thank the lecturers enough,” he said.
“They put so much in place to help me overcome the adversity; they helped me get counselling and they just got me to where I needed to be with the right headspace.”
Now graduating, Mr Timmins said it felt particularly special.
“I feel like I have really, really earned it! It’s a lovely feeling to have achieved my degree after the couple of years I’ve had.”
“My wife will be there on the day, and that’ll make it even more worthwhile.”