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Arfa Karim who was 16, today 14th Jan. 2011 passed away. She was the world's youngest Microsoft certified professional (MCP). She was only 9 years old when she cleared her MCP.

For more details about her, check wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arfa_Karim

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I read about this story a few days ago. She was on live support, and Bill Gates himself was financing for her medical bills.

RIP :(

Hmm it said she just got admitted to a hospital, so not sure how she was on life support.. but I could have sworn some other kid died that was the youngest "microsoft" something like a week or two ago... it was a boy though.

Hmm it said she just got admitted to a hospital, so not sure how she was on life support.. but I could have sworn some other kid died that was the youngest "microsoft" something like a week or two ago... it was a boy though.

She was admitted to a hospital, and was put on heart-lung machine. Bill Gates wanted her to be moved to State, but since she was on life support, it wasn't really possible.

Source ( MSNBC )

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Arfa Karim Randhawa, the computer programming prodigy who became the world?s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at 9 years old, has passed away at the age of 16, according to reports out of her native Pakistan this weekend.

She had been in the hospital for nearly a month after reportedly suffering an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest. Two weeks ago her outlook appeared to improve. In recent weeks, Microsoft had stepped in to help provide medical care.

Only 16 years old very sad. Maybe she had Epilepsy and Autism (which are related), but hadn't been diagnosed or receiving good enough treatment. Most epilepsy can be managed without dying so young.

Would explain the insanely high level of intelligence. I've never personally been around anybody who was autistic, but from what I hear, they make up for what they lack in social skills in ridiculous levels of intelligence/cognition. Too bad she died.

Only 16 years old very sad. Maybe she had Epilepsy and Autism (which are related), but hadn't been diagnosed or receiving good enough treatment. Most epilepsy can be managed without dying so young.

She received excellent treatment, considering Bill Gates took a personal interest in her treatment (he had American doctors consult with the Pakistani doctors, etc).

It's unfortunate that she died.

Would explain the insanely high level of intelligence. I've never personally been around anybody who was autistic, but from what I hear, they make up for what they lack in social skills in ridiculous levels of intelligence/cognition. Too bad she died.

yes this is true my cousin and I are both autistic although we do not like socialising and do not understand people we have both been programmers from a young age me 15 when I had access to a computer and my cousin 12 when I started teaching him while I my self was learning autistic people can be very intelligent also on a side note I do not believe the previous persons statement is true I have never heard of epilepsy being related to autism I can see similarities in regard to the neurons but I my self have never met an epileptic person with autism or an autistic person with epilepsy and yes I know over 30 autistic people personally

So what extrodinary program(ming) did she code from age 10 thru 16 to classify her as a genius?

The Microsoft exams are NOT that complicated.

3rd World Country that has history of considering women as lower then low class.

she was 9

she is the youngest in the WORLD

how young did you get yours?

3rd World Country that has history of considering women as lower then low class.

she was 9

she is the youngest in the WORLD

how young did you get yours?

No one here is disputing what she did. Attacking someone who thinks that an MS certificate isn't something to be relished only makes you look immature. Someone has a different opinion than you on the Internet, who would have guessed.

I for one would like to know exactly what she did beyond getting the MS certificate. While it is interesting that she did it at a young age, is that all she did?

Also, it seems her unique skills appear to be some form of excellent memory recall. As with most standardized exams, simply looking at previous questions and memorizing the answers (which I?m sure you can find easily) would be all you need to pass.

While it is interesting that she did it at a young age, is that all she did?

pretty much, yea thats all she did and it was just a MCP from what i understand, she didnt go to the higher levels

and yea the lst line could be considered an attack, quoted said it was so easy to get along lines of " pfft. who cares ". also listed why she was famous.

Rest in Peace, little genius!

Who knows what you could have accomplished.

I hope that you feel good now whereever you are and that you're an inspiration to kids all over the world.

Not just for the techie kids, but for everyone.

You showed that kids, too can play in 'senior league' and get the same, if not more respect!

Never underestimate children, they are capable of more than we let them do often enough. :)

Glassed Silver:ios

I read about this story a few days ago. She was on live support, and Bill Gates himself was financing for her medical bills.

RIP :(

Her father was a colonel in the pakistan army, and she was being treated in CMH (Combined Military Hospital) so the parents did not have to pay anything. He however did offer to fly her over to america on an air ambulance and pay for the hospital bills over there. A very good and much appreciated gesture to say the least.

RIP Arifa, A flower that bloomed for far too little time.

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