Youngest female Microsoft Certified Professional dies at
16
Arfa Karim, an MCP at only 9,
has passed away at the age of 16.
(Credit: Microsoft)
Arfa Karim, the youngest girl ever to become a Microsoft Certified
Professional, passed away in her native country of Pakistan on Saturday owing
to complications from an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest. She would have turned
17 next month.
Granted the MCP title in
2004, Karim was only 9 years old at the time, making her the youngest MCP in
Pakistan and reportedly the second youngest in the world, just behind India's
Mridul Seth, who became an MCP at the age of 8. Her excitement about technology
first bubbled up after her father bought her a PC, mainly to use for e-mail.
Karim was felled by a cardiac
arrest last month, followed by an epileptic attack. Doctors discovered that she
had weak cardiac muscles due to a defect, specifically a hole in her heart
muscle, according to News Pakistan.
After learning of Karim's
condition, Gates took an active role in trying to help, instructing his own
doctors to monitor her care remotely. The Microsoft chairman looked into the
possibility
of transferring her to the
U.S. where he would pay for treatment. But her doctors felt her condition
would not allow her to be moved, especially since she was on a ventilator.
However, News Pakistan reported that Gates and Karim's father were both
disappointed over the treatment she received at the hospital in Pakistan.
Though Karim was in a coma
since late December, doctors were apparently optimistic about her chances
for recovery, as they reached out to other medical experts around the world,
according to the Huffington Post.
Her condition had even started to improve. But after 26 days in the
hospital, Karim finally passed away because of complications from a
tracheotomy on Saturday.
On learning of Karim's death,
Gates offered his condolences to the girl's father and posted a tweet expressing his
sympathies.
Though some may discount the
effort it takes to become an MCP, it does require in-depth knowledge of several
Microsoft products and technologies, something many adults have
difficulty mastering. And
Karim seemed wise beyond her years, as recounted in an interview with Seattle PI conducted
when she was only 10.
"If you want to do
something big in your life, you must remember that shyness is only the mind,"
she said at the time. "If you think shy, you act shy. If you think
confident, you act confident. Therefore never let shyness conquer your
mind."
Beyond her status as an MCP,
Karim had participated in
various events and conferences over the years, including
the Microsoft keynote session at the Tech-Ed Developers Conference in Barcelona
in 2006, noted Geo TV. She was also reportedly working on a project with NASA
before she became sick.
Lance Whitney wears a few
different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer.
He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other
computer publications and Web sites. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog
Network, and he is not an employee of CNET.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57360044-75/youngest-female-microsoft-certified-professional-dies-at-16/
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