First winner of scholarship named after fallen nurse vows to make her proud
A mother-of-three and former colleague of much-loved Walsall nurse Areema Nasreen, who died a year ago after contracting Covid-19, has vowed to “make her proud” after being awarded the first scholarship in her memory.
Sheila Kerai, a clinical support worker on the Acute Medical Unit at Walsall Manor Hospital, worked alongside Areema.
Sheila, aged 47, said: "We were like chalk and cheese in that I am quite a boisterous person and Areema was quieter and more reserved but we clicked so well and rubbed off on each other
“We both dreamed of becoming nurses and when I encouraged Areema to start her journey she did the same to me but the timing wasn’t right for me. I was a single mum with three children and they needed me, particularly my youngest.
"But thanks to this scholarship in Areema’s memory it’s my time now and I promise I’ll make her proud.”
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Professional Development Unit, HR and Well Wishers charity worked together to establish a Scholarship in Areema’s name to financially support their dream.
It is partly funded by the charity and was developed after talking to staff about the most fitting way to remember Areema.
Sheila will start as a trainee nursing associate in September and will be eligible to step on to year two of the nursing degree programme once that two year training programme has finished.
Areema’s sister Kazeema said: “This year has been terrible for our family and the pain never goes away – it actually gets worse for us. Losing Areema has been felt by our community too as she was such a positive, wonderful person.
“But we have taken some comfort from her memory and everything she stood for living on through this Scholarship.
"It is just the best way to show how much she meant to us all. We are really pleased for Sheila, who worked closely with my sister, and know she will make a great nurse at the end of it all, just like Areema.”
