Thousands of students across the county collected their A-level results and began making decisions about their future last Thursday.

But one Ashford mum was prouder than most.

Abi Lendrum, who attended Highworth Grammar School, achieved an amazing three A grades – all while her mum, Maggie, was battling cancer.

The 18-year-old will now be heading off to Falmouth University to do a specialist degree in film studies.

Maggie Lendrum, 53, said: “I am so, so proud of her, and my son Adam, 14. She kept going and worked so hard in her exams.

“With everything going on she could have easily crashed and burned but all Abi’s efforts have paid off.”

On May 14, in the middle of exam period, Maggie was rushed up to King’s College Hospital, London where it was discovered that she had a brain tumour and an inoperable tumour in her liver.

Maggie said: “I had breast cancer two years ago and even though I was cured, they told me that I was at a very high risk of it returning.

“Abi and Adam have had such a lot to put up with. I don’t think I would have coped as well; I’m so proud of her and Adam.” - Maggie Lendrum

“And it has, but luckily they caught it really early so it is treatable, but not curable.

“If it had been any later I would have only been given three months to live.”

She was diagnosed with stage 4 metatistic cancer, however, her determination didn’t waver and within 10 days of being admitted, the brain tumour was removed and Maggie was back at home.

In the meantime, Abi was revising hard, determined to pass her exams.

She would spend the journey to and from the hospital studying.

Her mum said: “The tumour was at the back of my head which affected my balance and co-ordination so I was walking funny and sideways, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

“But I tried to play it down, I’m really positive so I was trying to be really upbeat about everything that was happening and play it down to them both.

“Abi and Adam have had such a lot to put up with. I don’t think I would have coped as well; I’m so proud of her and Adam.”

She added:“Both the schools – Highworth and the Norton Knatchbull (where Adam is a pupil) – have been amazing, I can’t express how grateful I am for how much they have helped.”

Abi, who got an amazing three As in film, English language and literature and sociology in her A-level results, said: “I actually got an unconditional offer for Falmouth University back in January so everyone was telling me not to bother or stress about my exams because I would be fine but I still wanted to do well.

“As I was going to collect my results I was past the point of nervousness really because I’d waited for so long; I think mum was more excited than me. She kept telling me to open the envelope.

“I was really happy with my results. It was a bit of a shock because I was convinced that I was going to get a D – with everything going on it was really hard but I wanted to do well."

After a night of celebrating with her friends in Canterbury, Abi is now excited to head off to university to start her course in a few weeks time.