Milford mum’s Solent University law degree triumph after MS diagnosis

A MILFORD mum who was diagnosed with MS six years ago has achieved a first class law degree and been recognised as the highest performing student on her course.

Initially doubting that she would even be able to finish the course, Amy Cullen kept her 2020 enrolment on Solent University’s law course a secret from all but her closest family.

As a single mum to four children, she had planned to retrain and restart her career when her youngest started secondary school in 2020, but was devastated when she was diagnosed with MS in 2017.

“It was a massive knock to my self-confidence and I felt pretty confused and worried about the future,” recalls Amy, continuing: “I’d always been able to do all these things, like teaching sailing, and suddenly I realised that I may not ever be able to do them again.”

“I’d always been confident in my abilities at work and suddenly I was doubting myself.”

However, Amy (48) says that her own acceptance of her condition and her determination to make the best of the hand she has been dealt, helped drive her forward.

Last week, in addition to graduating from Solent University with a first class LLB honours degree, she was awarded the Stowe Family Law LLP Prize for the overall best performing student and the Paris Smith LLP Prize for the best dissertation after achieving a 100% score.

Prior to beginning her studies, Amy organised logistics for a national fundraising challenge called The Big Learner Relay, which involves driving instructors relaying a Pudsey topbox from lesson to lesson around the UK in aid of BBC Children in Need.

She also worked in other jobs on a self-employed basis, but during the pandemic began struggling financially.

“We were having a really tough time financially, I literally said to a friend, I’ve got four children and I don’t know how I can afford Christmas this year,” recalls Amy, continuing: “She said, ‘you’ve talked about re-training – now is the time to do it, there are grants and loans available that can help you.’

“I was anxious but I thought – I’ve always told my children that whatever they want to be, they can be; so I decided it was time to start practicing what I had been preaching.”

Amy’s interest in law had initially been ignited several years ago when she and her young family were living in Cork Harbour, Ireland, close to a toxic waste dumping site.

She recalls: “It all stemmed from my daughter being born very poorly and when she was transferred up to Dublin. The ambulance said they needed a lane open on the motorway just for the babies coming from the Cork Harbour region because there were so many awful illnesses. And I realised this isn’t right – I need to do something.”

At the time the Irish government was refusing to acknowledge that 500,000 tonnes of toxic material discovered in a dump on Haulbowline Island in 2008, could be linked to extremely high cancer death rates in the town – which were 37% above the national average.

Amy recalls: “I started a campaign to get the government to do a baseline health study of the harbour that we were living in and they refused, and this morphed into a campaign to get this toxic landfill site cleaned up.

“The Irish government were very reluctant and I held public meetings and spoke to MPs and MEPS. I was on the equivalent of This Morning in Ireland and they referred to me as Ireland’s Eric Brockovich.”

Ultimately, Amy ended up petitioning the EU in Brussels; and was successful in her bid to get the government to clean up the toxic site.

Amy continued: “The law has always felt like a natural area for me to be interested in, so very, very last minute I signed up to start this law degree – it is the best spontaneous thing I have ever done.

“The first year was all online because of Covid, which meant I could study in my own time around the children; and then years two and three were full time at university.

“I’ve had amazing support from my friends and family. They have let me do what I needed to do and just study and study; and when I’ve come out of my bedroom they’ve all just been there for me.

“There has been a lot of juggling and my wider family really stepped up to help when I had deadlines and assignments due.

“They all seem to have this unwavering belief in me, and that has really helped.

“Receiving the award for the overall highest achieving student was a real surprise because there were lots of really excellent students – I couldn’t really take it in.”

Amy manages her MS symptoms with diet and supplements – avoiding dairy, gluten and soya which can lead to inflammation.

She said: “It has been difficult – there have been a number of times over the three years when I’ve just grabbed something to eat and it’s not always been the right thing – and I’ve really felt the effects of that.

“Last year I was trying to get an assignment done and I had a constant spasm in my finger which meant I couldn’t type – it was incredibly frustrating.”

Amy has also had problems with her neck and hip when sitting and studying for long periods of time, but a chiropractor and NIS therapy has helped manage her symptoms.

She said: “I’ve had to do a lot of adjusting to realise what my abilities and limitations are. I have to plan my days and rest so I’m not cognitively and physically fatigued.

“But I won’t let MS dictate to me what my life is going to be like. It will not define me – I will not have it – I’m very stubborn like that.”

In September, Amy will begin a legal practice course and master’s degree at the University of Law, which will enable her to begin training as a solicitor.