Parents Accept PhD For Daughter Who Died Of Cancer While Researching The Disease
They accepted her Doctorate in Public Health posthumously on Saturday, 7 December.
By May Vin Ang — 10 Dec 2024, 05:38 PM
The 26th Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Convocation Ceremony turned emotional as the parents of the late Dr Nornazirah Ahmad Kamarudin accepted her Doctorate in Public Health posthumously on Saturday, 7 December
According to the Borneo Post, Dr Nornazirah, who completed her doctoral thesis at UMS's Flexible Education Centre, passed away in April this year due to ovarian cancer.
She was 36 years old.
Representing his daughter during the conferment session, her father, Ahmad Kamarudin Ibrahim, 65, appeared visibly emotional but proud
He received the degree from the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahirrudin.
In a Facebook post, UMS shared that the father expressed gratitude for the recognition of his daughter's perseverance and dedication, even after her untimely passing.
"Thank you to UMS for guiding my daughter throughout her journey. Though it was cut short, Alhamdulillah, her hard work paid off," he said.
Dr Nornazirah's parents at the 26th UMS Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, 7 December.
Image via Universiti Malaysia Sabah (Facebook)Dr Nornazirah's mother, Tursina Abdul Rahman, 64, shared how her daughter remained steadfast in pursuit of her doctorate despite battling cancer
Diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in 2023, she said her daughter continued to work on her thesis while receiving treatment at a hospital in Sabah.
"And I think the saddest part for me was the topic she chose for her PhD thesis, which was cancer. Even while she was sick, she would open her laptop to complete her thesis," the mother said.
Before pursuing her doctorate, she shared that Dr Nornazirah worked at the Penampang Health Clinic. The mother added that her daughter had also dreamed of starting a family with her husband of four years.
"Nornazirah was a good daughter with high spirits and vision. It deeply saddens me that she had to leave us so early," she said tearfully.
