Kerala: A 24-year-old IPS aspirant, with a rare bone disorder and respiratory condition, has won hearts for appearing in the 2019 UPSC CSE preliminary examinations with an oxygen cylinder beside her.

Latheesha Ansari from Kottayam, was diagnosed with ‘Type II Osteogenesis Imperfecta’ (brittle bone disease) after birth. She also suffers from pulmonary hypertension and an oxygen cylinder is always required for her respiratory needs.

However, her health did not deter her dream from appearing for the coveted civil service examinations on Sunday, June 2. Ansari appeared for the Preliminary Civil Services examination on a wheelchair and an oxygen cylinder beside her.

A video of Ansari, in which she is seated inside the examination hall with an oxygen cylinder at the back of her seat, has now gone viral on social media.

A portable oxygen concentrator was provided to Ansari inside the examination hall after Kottayam District Collector P R Sudheer Babu intervened in the matter. On the day of the exam, Ansari was accompanied to the centre by her parents.

The 24-year-old is a hard-working student and had been preparing for the exam for over 18 months. The M Com graduate chose Malayalam as the optional subject for the examination.

Currently, Ansari needs about Rs 25,000 every month for her medical needs.

After Ansari’s story of determination went viral on social media, many users including Latha Nair of Amritavarshini, a charitable society working for children with the rare genetic distorder, said the UPSC needs to provide better facilities for IAS aspirants like Latheesha.