A courageous carer has fought against devastating loss and life-changing illness to achieve her dream career and be crowned Learner of the Year.
Emily Satterthwaite, who works at Pendine Park’s Penybryn care home, has had to overcome years of debilitating health issues, including being fitted with a stoma bag.
She also suffered the loss of her beloved father and has supported both her mum and her partner through heart-wrenching cancer illnesses.
But throughout even the most traumatic times she has never lost sight of her career goals as a senior care practitioner.
Her resilience and unswerving dedication to those in her care have won her the admiration of colleagues who say she is an incredible role model, battling on selflessly despite having endured a physical and emotional rollercoaster.
Her mentor and Pendine Park tutor, Jenna Evans, nominated Emily for recognition at the Coleg Cambria Student Awards 2025.
Jenna was subsequently overjoyed to hear the judging panel has now selected Emily as winner of the Delivery Partner Learner of the Year accolade.
The awards celebrate outstanding achievement across all of Coleg Cambria’s study sites, including Yale and Bersham Road Colleges in Wrexham, plus Northop, Deeside and Llysfasi near Ruthin.
The honour will be presented at an awards ceremony at Coleg Cambria, Wrexham, which both Emily and Jenna will attend on June 19.
Emily, 34, of Heol Islwyn, Coedpoeth, said she could not be more delighted and sees it as much a tribute to her late father and her loving family as to herself.
Her father, Keith Richard Bunn, passed away two years ago after suffering kidney disease.
Emily said: “He was a real fighter and believed in carrying on as best you can whatever the odds. He instilled in me a phenomenal work ethic which I will always be grateful for.”
Emily drew on her family’s determined streak when she faced her own serious health issues, starting as a teenager.
While still at school she began to suffer regular bouts of excruciating abdominal pains which continued into adulthood.
After years of pain, tests confirmed she has Crohn’s Disease, an incurable condition that causes the gut to become inflamed.
By the time Emily was diagnosed it had progressed to such an extent that specialists recommended the best option was to undergo surgery for a stoma bag to be fitted.
After school she went to Yale College in Wrexham and later gained a place at Bangor University where she gained a degree.
Six years ago she was recruited by Pendine Park care organisation with whom she has been able to continue her care sector training. While working with them she has achieved a Health and Social Care Level 2 qualification and is now excelling on her Level 3 qualification course.
Throughout her studies Emily has been steadfastly supporting her mum, Diane Marie Bunn, who was diagnosed with breast cancer just as Emily joined the Pen-y-Bryn team.
Then, a short time after that, the family suffered yet more shattering news when Emily’s partner was found to have chronic lymphatic leukaemia.
Her mum, is also a carer at Penybryn and is now back at work following treatment, while Emily’s partner is currently in a period of remission.
Diane said she is enormously proud of her daughter, constantly amazed at her inner strength.
She said: “Emily has been through so much since her teenage years but she has always fought so hard to achieve her ambitions, I could not be more proud of her. She is an inspiration to me and to others.
“It’s wonderful to see how much she has progressed, and I’m so pleased for her attaining the Learner of the Year award, she thoroughly deserves it.”
Emily has reached the point that she now regularly leads the night shift.
Her assessor, Jenna Evans, said Emily has shown indomitable levels of courage to achieve all she has done in recent years.
She added: “Emily’s journey is testament to her resilience, dedication, and commitment to health and social care.
“It is remarkable and truly admirable that, despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, Emily still chose to work in care. She has shown such commitment given all the ongoing hardships she and her family have faced.
“As a senior at Penybryn, she provides exceptional care to individuals with brain injuries, neurological complex needs, and support for those in need of end-of-life and palliative care.
“Her ability to build confidence, produce excellent written reflections, and understand well-being, dignity and empowerment is outstanding. She really prioritises what matters to the person, demonstrating clear development in her skills.
“Emily’s choice of units specific to end-of-life care and cancer reflects her understanding and ability to provide empathetic support. Her personal experiences and professional dedication make her uniquely suited to this field.”
Emily’s ultimate goal is to become a nurse, a pathway she hopes to pursue after achieving her Level 3 qualification.
She said: “It’s been my ambition ever since I was a child. Gaining my nursing qualification would be a dream come true for me. I would love to work as a palliative nurse in a care home.”
Penybryn manager Tracey Cuthill said: “We’re all incredibly proud of what Emily has achieved.
“Her commitment to learning is truly heroic given everything she has had to overcome to achieve such remarkable success.
“She is a credit to herself, a credit to her family and a credit to Pendine and a role model for all who aspire to be the best they can be.”
