When Nayana Koshy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aged 18, she was able to count on tremendous support from her family, friends and the medical staff who treated her.
But there was something else which helped her through her battle with illness – her faith in God.
Nayana, now aged 24, explained: “When I prayed I didn’t feel pain. Jesus touched me. He took away my pain and healed me.”
Her mother, Sofia Koshy, said: “All of our friends and family in India were praying for her.
“Praying worked along with the medicine.”
Before she became ill, Nayana, from Aberdeen, was waiting to be accepted to study engineering in the city.
When she arrived in the north-east from India in June 2010, having just finished her secondary school education, she noticed some swelling in her neck.
Nayana and her mother visited her GP who referred her the haematology department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Mrs Koshy understood something was seriously wrong, but Nayana was still getting to grips with the English language and was not quite sure about what the doctor had told her.
Nayana said: “Initially I thought they were talking like everything was ok, but then I listened harder and realised it was serious.”
Nayana began chemotherapy immediately, but later contracted septicaemia and her treatment had to be stopped.
“There were times when we thought she wouldn’t be back with us,” said Mrs Koshy.
“She had to be taken to ICU and she lost her sight.
“The nurses in the ward were so kind and said she was a fighter.
“We were always worrying about her but Nayana was always positive and happy.”
During her time in hospital, Nayana worked on improving her English, and her nurses even taught her a few Scottish phrases.
She said: “In some ways it was a nice experience as the nurses were amazing and they were trying to teach me new words.
“I was learning Gaelic and Scottish but to be honest I keep forgetting them.
“I remember ‘hunky dory’ and ‘fit like?’.”
Nayana was discharged on December, 24 2010 – just in time to spend Christmas with her family at their home in Mastrick.
Her sight eventually returned and she was able to start university.
After her experience, however, she decided to study pharmacy instead of engineering at Robert Gordon University.
She said: “It’s hard but I’m enjoying it.
“It’s sometimes hard trying to understand the lecturers’ different accents.”
Now, Nayana will be taking part in Courage on the Catwalk – a charity fashion show organised by Friends of Anchor which takes place next month – to express her gratitude to those who helped her through her illness.
She said: “I want to show my courage and share my experiences with others who are in a similar situation.
“Until now I wasn’t confident enough but I wanted to push myself and do something for charity and other patients like me.”
And her advice to those who may be in a similar situation?
Nayana said: “Believe. Miracles do and will happen.”
