Proud parents of Luton burns survivor share their joy as she graduates

Her proud parents, Tahira and Arif, couldn’t be more delighted for their courageous and hard-working daughter.

Mum Tahira said: “A huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders – she’s completed the course she always dreamed of. And throughout it all she’s had the sweetest smile . . . in spite of everything she faced.”

She added: “We thank God for giving her the courage to be brave and helping her achieve her dream.”

Shamiam, 22, told the Luton News: “I’m so happy right now – I can’t believe I got an upper second class honours degree.”

Luton News photographer Jane Russell was instrumental in encouraging her initial love of photography and the pair spent many happy hours discussing their mutual interest in the craft.

And the Luton News has been following her inspirational story since she arrived in this country as a tiny tot. She’d been severely injured when a candle fell into her cot at her home in Kashmir.

Shamiam lost both hands in the blaze and her skull was burned down to the lining of her brain.

She’s had several major operations over the years, including the Krukenberg procedure which split her forearms to produce two ‘fingers.’ She also had a metal plate inserted to protect her sensitive head and has undergone numerous skin grafts.

And throughout it all, her sunny smile has charmed the nursing staff at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and St Andrew’s Burns Unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, where she was under the care of her beloved Uncle Doctor – Professor Peter Dziewulski.

Shamiam, who has two sisters and a brother, went to Challney Girls where she won several awards for her can-do attitude. She’s well known around Luton with her trademark purple helmet.

Two years ago she opened her heart about her injuries for the first time, speaking at a fundraising event which raised £285,000 for a charity building a specialist hospital and burns unit in Kotli, Kashmir – where she was from originally.

This brave young girl stood up in front of an audience of hundreds and said: “I’m here because I want to change lives for other people in Pakistan.

"When this happened to me there was no knowledge or equipment to help burns patients.

"I lost not only my hands but also half my skull and all of my face. I have scars on my legs and not enough skin to keep me warm on cold nights.

"But I’m not here to talk about myself – I’m here to make a difference, so that no-one else has to endure what me and my family have faced over the last 20 years.”

Going to university has also increased her confidence and now she can’t wait to find a job in her chosen career.

She said: “Ideally, I’d like to work behind the camera as a director. But I’d be happy to start as a runner and work my way up.”

Email [email protected] if you can help Shamiam with a position in the television or film worlds.