JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 15 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of Dr. Noraida Abd Manaf, who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Science during the UTM 69th Convocation. Her journey, spanning over eight years of study across 16 semesters and 11 years of dialysis treatment, is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and unwavering determination. Her story, previously known only to her family, supervisors, colleagues, and medical teams, is now shared to inspire the wider UTM community with her extraordinary resilience.
Dr. Noraida began her PhD journey in 2013 after moving to Johor Bahru with her husband and their six-year-old child, joining UTM as a Research Assistant before pursuing her doctoral studies. Her dream at the time was to earn her PhD before the age of 40.
However, her life changed drastically in 2014 when she was diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), requiring dialysis three times a week. During this period, she also became an unofficial single mother, balancing demanding treatments and research responsibilities. In 2018, due to financial constraints and having no stable place to stay in Johor Bahru, she returned to Selangor, went through a divorce, and continued caring for her child alone with limited resources and the support of her elderly parents. Throughout these challenges, UTM provided her with the necessary support and resources to continue her studies and research, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to student success.
Her challenges intensified in November 2019 when she underwent a kidney transplant at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), with her older brother as the donor. Unfortunately, the transplant failed due to rejection complications. The situation left her critically ill, intubated, and facing only a 50-50 chance of survival, leading the medical team to call her family to prepare for any possible outcome. After weeks of hospitalisation, she resumed dialysis. She was forced to defer several semesters due to the severe complications following the surgery.
Despite a slow recovery and the added difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Noraida resumed her thesis writing in 2022 with the strong encouragement of her Supervisor (SV), Co-supervisor (Co-SV), colleagues, doctors, and supportive family members. In March 2024, she successfully submitted her thesis, but once again her health was tested when her haemoglobin level dropped dangerously to 6.3, resulting in emergency hospitalisation and a blood transfusion. Nevertheless, she persevered and passed her Viva-voce online in July 2024. She completed her major thesis revisions by January 2025. She officially received her Senate Letter in May 2025, marking the completion of her long and challenging academic journey.
Throughout this period, Dr. Noraida’s strength was rooted in her disciplined and systematic nature, which she had cultivated since her school years. She always valued meticulous planning and the importance of not delaying work, except when prevented by illness. She expressed deep gratitude for having supervisors who were highly understanding of her situation and for the continued support of her lab colleagues, doctors, and family. Her greatest source of motivation was her child, whose understanding and emotional strength sustained her through the toughest periods. With her journal publications already completed as part of the graduation requirements, she remained determined not to stop halfway. Instead, she pushed forward to finish her thesis, a testament to the power of a supportive community in overcoming challenges.
Reflecting on the moment she completed her PhD, Dr. Noraida recalled being overwhelmed with emotion. Although she did not achieve her dream of graduating before 40, receiving her PhD at 43 is a blessing she deeply cherishes. Offering advice to other students facing challenges, she shares, “Never ever give up or surrender. We can feel disappointed, cry, and release those feelings. But we must rise and try to find a source of strength.”
Dr. Noraida’s inspiring journey reminds us that success is not defined by speed but by perseverance and faith. Her story stands as a beacon of hope and motivation for the entire UTM community, proving that even the most overwhelming challenges can be overcome with determination, strong support, and unwavering trust in God, underscoring the power of belief in overcoming adversity.
