By Rachel Richardson
513-556-5219

After years of lectures, exams and late-night caffeinated cram sessions, many college students look forward to that landmark day when they can proudly march across the stage with degree in hand, toss their caps high into the air and celebrate the culmination of years of hard work. 

For newly minted University of Cincinnati graduates Leah Howell and Sara Whitestone, UC’s 2016 summer Commencement ceremony held Aug. 6 at Fifth Third Arena marked an even greater milestone: the ultimate triumph of overcoming adversity through the power of community and the relentless pursuit of passion. 

The fight of her life

Howell, a doctoral student in Educational Studies at UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services, was looking forward to defending her dissertation last fall when catastrophe struck.

Diagnosed in childhood with chronic pyelonephritis, a recurring kidney infection that can lead to renal inflammation and scarring, Howell underwent two kidney transplants in 2003 and 2004. By 2010, her health had stabilized and she joined the Bearcat family as an academic advisor in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences while also pursuing her graduate studies. 

As UC’s 2015 fall Homecoming approached, Howell began feeling under-the-weather and was admitted to the hospital for what promised to be a minor condition. A routine procedure, however, would quickly turn into a fight for her life when she suffered a life-threatening complication.     

“I was admitted into the [Intensive Care Unit] at University Hospital and placed on a ventilator,” Howell recalled. “I spent three weeks unconscious, passing my initially planned dissertation defense date, and undergoing over a dozen surgical procedures.”

After spending a harrowing several months in the hospital, Howell was released home in January to rest and rehabilitate. She returned to campus in June and quickly caught up on lost time, successfully defending her dissertation and netting a new job as an assistant dean of students at Bowling Green State University. 

“There were many days I wasn’t sure I would make it through. I wouldn’t have done it without my Bearcat family here on campus, my advisor and my family,” said Howell, sporting her hard-earned doctoral robe and regalia.

“I wouldn’t change a thing along the way,” she added of her whirlwind year. “Challenges aside, I am who I am because of those things.” 

Steps forward

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, a neurological disease that resulted in chronic fatigue, and a related condition that causes an abnormal heart rate, headaches, nausea and even fainting upon standing, had left Whitestone dependent on a wheelchair, but it couldn’t curb her fierce determination.

After arriving at UC in 2012, the double-major in communication and neuroscience quickly became an advocate for change on campus, both social change as well as the need to increase accessibility. She and others started the Alliance for Abilities at UC to educate and encourage inclusiveness and community.

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“UC definitely gave me that platform to be an advocate,” Whitestone said. “I’m so grateful for all the programming and student clubs and student organizations and the support from administration that we have had to be able to create sustainable changes here to improve accessibility in all different areas.”

Through Sara Spins, a nonprofit organization launched by Whitestone and her family, volunteers held fundraisers and purchased new customized wheelchairs for two other UC students and new hearing aids for a third student. In all, Sara Spins has raised more than $20,000 since 2012.

After undergoing alternative therapy using biofeedback treatment methods, Whitestone regained her mobility and took her first steps across campus in 2013. Her next goal? To walk across the stage during Commencement. 

“It felt unreal,” said an emotional Whitestone after taking her milestone march.  “It means so much to me that all these people have gotten me to this place and across that stage.  There were a lot of times over the past four years that I didn’t think this was going to be possible and I’m really happy that the community pulled together and got me through.”