Oden’s senior project assists ailing friend
May 24, 2010 • By Suan Allen, Staff Reporter
Filed under News, Top Stories
Imagine that you are paralyzed on one side of your face. You are forced to use a straw because you can no longer drink without one. You wake up every day with severe headaches.
These are some of the symptoms of the acute disease Bell’s palsy. Jasmine Oden, a student at Pencader Charter High School, has a close friend who is suffering from this rare disease. In order to bring about awareness of Bell’s palsy to students, teachers, and the community, Jasmine chose to focus on this disease – and her friend’s struggles – for her senior project.
Bell’s palsy is a form of facial paralysis that occurs when there is damage to the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. The cause is often unclear, but the disease is hereditary.
The victim, Katherine Serenbitz, is just 24 years old and inherited the disease from her mother two months ago. Already, half of her face is paralyzed.
When interviewed by Jasmine as part of the senior project, Katherine said, “It’s not easy living with this disorder.”
Bell’s palsy has many symptoms and side effects that have forced Katherine to completely change her lifestyle. The disease has no cure, which makes it difficult for a young lady such as Katherine, who must face the likelihood of suffering the long-term effects of the illness.
This topic is important to Jasmine not only because she knows someone who is affected by Bell’s palsy, but also because of her career choices. Jasmine is considering a career as a special education teacher or a pharmacist, both of which deal with helping children with disorders.
By turning this into her senior project, Jasmine is making people aware of this unfortunate and debilitating disease. Jasmine believes that this project has really brought out her leadership skills, which she is using to inform people about Bell’s palsy.
To help raise money for Katherine and other victims of the disease, Jasmine is hoping to host a bake sale and possibly participate in 5K charity runs.
Jasmine has already connected Katherine to a pair of support groups on Facebook: “Bell’s Palsy” and “Surviving Bell’s Palsy.” A video of Jasmine’s interview of Katherine will also be available online.
By interviewing and learning more about Katherine and her disease, Jasmine has realized how fortunate she is to be healthy. And perhaps her biggest lessons learned are these: never take your health for granted, and always be willing and ready to lend a hand when others are not as fortunate.
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