ALEX Shelley is not one to let the little matter of a brain tumour, 15 operations and partly losing his sight slow him down - as he is about to receive his university degree.

ALEX Shelley is not one to let the little matter of a brain tumour, 15 operations and partly losing his sight slow him down - as he is about to receive his university degree.

Mr Shelley, 23, from Onehouse Road, Stowmarket, will soon collect his BSC with honours degree in business network engineering after four years work.

Mr Shelley, a former student of Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham and Suffolk College in Ipswich, has had to undergo more health scares than many people do in an entire lifetime.

At18-months-old he needed urgent treatment for septicaemia, encephalitis and myocarditis, problems that caused a heart blockage.

He needed a pacemaker fitted and will rely on it for the rest of his life.

In 1992 as a young boy he had to have a brain tumour removed at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

After the tumour he was left partially sighted and he has undergone at least 15 operations in his life and developed epilepsy.

He spent a year gaining experience working for a property developing firm during his university studies, supporting the company's IT department.

He now hopes to go on to enjoy a successful career.

He said: “I felt a lot of fear when I first started, living away from home on my own with my condition.

“But what I have had to go through has made me more determined to get on, I really feel people should believe in themselves, try their best and stick at it and you will succeed.

“I want to thank all my friends and family throughout Suffolk who have helped support me throughout my life.”

His father David said: “I hope he will inspire others. He is one of life's survivors, he has hung in there and done well. “He has been through so much in his life, he is an incredible chap.”

Desiree, Alex's mother, said: “Life been a real struggle for him and Alex has always been labelled special needs, but that does not mean you can't do things. We are so pleased for him.”

He collects his 2:2 degree with honours from Sheffield Hallam University during a graduation ceremony in November.