CANCER patient Sidara Akalloo was given a hero’s welcome on Thursday afternoon after she was finally able to sit the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA).

Being able to walk into the exam room by herself was a goal, Sidara, 11, had set after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia a year ago.

Staff and students of Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School formed a semicircle and applauded her courage and resilience. Her principal, Donna Ramjhon-Khan, said she is an inspiration to them all.

Friends and relatives joined her parents David and Simi Akalloo, brother Nicholai, and teacher, Tricia Marjardsingh, to say a prayer for her success, before she walked into the exam room at Presentation College on Thursday morning.

[caption id="attachment_950864" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Sidara Akalloo gets a hug from principal Donna Ramjohn-Khan at the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School on Thursday. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]

They were there several hours later, around 1.30 pm, when she emerged, to hugs, kisses, tears, congratulatory flowers, balloons, gifts, from teachers and staff of both Grant Memorial and Presentation College, where her father is a teacher.

She walked across Carib Street to her primary school to screams of “Congratulations," “Well done,” and, “We are proud of you,” from peers and teachers.

Chemotherapy damaged her nerves, and for w hile Sidara, a ballet dancer and athlete, lost the use of her legs. But she refused even to consider using a wheelchair to take her into the exam room.

She also missed out on several months of online classes, as for approximately six weeks she could not even remember her own name. Her grades suffered as she battled near-blindness, but her determination to succeed prevailed.

She suffered another terrible blow the week before the March SEA examination, when she fell ill and had to be taken to the emergency department of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, liver dysfunction and jaundice.

In the past two weeks, two of her friends – cancer patients – including Triston Ramlochan, died, plunging her into depression

But through it all, Sidara refused to let the disease defeat her and when the Ministry of Education said she could sit the supplemental exam on April 21, she grasped the chance and worked hard to improve her grades.

In the schoolyard of Presentation College on Thursday, Sidara said whatever she did and achieved, it was for Triston and the others who have lost their battle and others who are still fighting to survive.

[caption id="attachment_950867" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Sidara Akalloo is greeted by students of the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School after completing the SEA exam at Presentation College, San Fernando, Thursday. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]

She said the exam was easier than she expected, although she was challenged by a few maths questions. While aiming for her first choice – Naparima Girls’ High School – believing she did the work t