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A Level pupil inspired to study medicine by doctors caring for brother

Thursday, 14 August 2025 12:42

Ripon Grammar pupil Isabelle Whitehead and younger brother, Toby.

A young carer has won a place to study medicine after being inspired by the doctors and nurses who looked after her disabled brother.

Ripon Grammar pupil Isabelle Whitehead’s 12-year-old brother, Toby, suffers from Dravet syndrome - a rare and severely disabling form of epilepsy, alongside autism.

The 18-year-old, who achieved A grades in chemistry and geography and a B in biology, will study medicine at the University of Liverpool.

She said:

“Toby is the reason I want to do medicine, I have grown up seeing the positive effects that doctors and medical professionals have had on his condition.”

Toby started having seizures when he was one and Isabelle was eight, involving many ambulance and air ambulance trips and intensive care stays over the years.

Isabelle, from Carthorpe near Ripon, explained how she balanced her studies with being a devoted young carer at home.

She said:

“Being a young carer is something I have had to juggle alongside sixth form and revising.

“Toby has to have constant supervision, we have to spot his seizures and also assist our parents when he has a seizure.

“It was difficult for me and my sister to see him so poorly and still is now when we watch him have a seizure, it’s also difficult to know he can’t be like all normal boys his age and, missing out on sport and everyday things.

“But despite all his challenges he faces and learning difficulties he’s the funniest, strongest and kindest little brother we could ever ask for.”

She took part in the Great North Run to raise more than £1,200 for the Dravet Syndrome UK charity last year and has also juggled her sixth form studies with completing her gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

During her time in sixth form, she was also a member of the senior girls’ choir and worked part-time as a waitress.

She is now looking forward to travelling during a gap year before joining Liverpool’s prestigious medical school.

She added:

“I have loved sixth form as it set me up with good habits I can continue to use throughout university.

“I also made lifelong friends and had the best time.”

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