Can I reapply to NS after being kicked out?

Hi everyone!

I have a bit of a dilemma. I started a nursing degree in 2006 and all hell broke loose in my private life - within months my uncle was murdered, my mum had a nervous breakdown and was institutionalised for 4 months, my dad was put on anti-depressants which had a weird side effect on him, making him very mentally ill and a completely different person. (it was later diagnosed as bipolar) He was also institutionalised and while he was in the hospital they discovered he had prostate cancer. Very aggressive prostate cancer and they werent optimistic that his mental or physical health would ever recover.

Add all of this to me, an incredibly shy (almost social-phobic) 21 year old girl, lonely as they come, trying to do a new and daunting university course, I didnt do well to say the least. My attendance was diabolical, I admit. I missed more classes than I went to and eventually I was given a written warning. By the end of the year I was so depressed I lost all interest in everything and didnt want to go to university so I dropped out. But I didnt handle it rightly at all. I never told the lecturers everything that was going on in my private life, I didnt even tell them I was leaving, I just stopped turning up to classes so officially they discontinued me for not handing in coursework as well as my extremely poor attendance.

The thing is I loved the course, its all I've ever wanted to do and all I can imagine me doing. I cant see me happy in any other career. Now everything is a lot better at home, I went to Australia on my own for 8 months which completely changed me and made me a much more independent, responsible person and I want to go back to nursing more than anything. But I'm sure I read in a student handbook that if you are discontinued for poor performance or absence you can not be readmitted. This breaks my heart.

I was even thinking about applying to another university and just not mentioning the year I already did because I dropped out before exams came round so there are no paper qualifications on record.

Anyone got any advice or help?

Thank you.