A YOUNG woman whose twin sister died from a heart condition aged six weeks is preparing to work in Africa to fulfil her dream of becoming a midwife.
Vicky May, 19, will spend three months in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to help her secure a place on a midwifery degree course.
She initially applied to various universities last year but was turned down due to lack of "life experience".
Now, Vicky said she hopes spending three months working in the field of medicine and midwifery in the country will aid her application.
She also hopes to help others following the death of her twin sister, Kirsty.
Vicky, of Market Weighton, said: "I wanted to know why it happened to us.
"There were loads of unanswered questions because it was such a long time ago.
"People born with the same condition now can survive.
"Everything happens for a reason and maybe this was why.
"It's going to be really hard. But if I can do it in Ghana, I can do it here.
"Hopefully, it will make me a better midwife and a better support to women in the future."
Vicky, a former Market Weighton School pupil, will travel to Ghana on January 23 and return on April 23.
She will live with a family, who will look after her as their own during her stay.
The first six weeks of Vicky's placement, which is run through Projects Abroad, will be spent in medicine.
She will travel to villages where people do not have easy access to hospitals or medical care.
The remaining six weeks will be spent covering midwifery.
Vicky will spend time in a similar role to a midwifery assistant in England, attending scans and supporting mothers, or expectant mothers.
She said: "If I do medicine as well, it won't close any doors if I change my mind later.
"It's going to be a major shock and an eye-opener.
"It's going to be really hard to see babies and mums dying.
"I will probably see it every day.
"The infant mortality rate over there is really high and it's because of a lack of education."
Vicky is currently applying for a place on a midwifery degree course at universities including Hull, Manchester, Nottingham, Chester and Northumbria.
Although Vicky knows she faces a huge challenge in the New Year, she said she is looking forward to the experience.
"I'm really looking forward to it but I'm a bit apprehensive and scared," she said.
"If I don't do it now, I'll never do it and you only live once."
