Interdisciplinary Studies Student Overcame Adversity to Graduate

Katherine Davis conquered medical hurdles to graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies.

From Newsjournalonline.com

Single mom of 3 overcomes brain tumor, seizures to earn degree

By Audrey Parente, May 11, 2009

She regained consciousness to a sea of wide-eyed faces, and the last thing the 39-year-old occupational therapist remembered was feeling "dizzy and clammy."

Someone told her not to move, that she'd had a seizure and EVAC was on the way.

"It turned out to be a grand mal seizure and they found a brain tumor," said Katherine Davis of Ormond Beach. Until then, the single mother of three had been healthy.

It happened last August, when Davis was a few semesters away from earning her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Central Florida. Two days later she had surgery, and in three more days she was released from the hospital. The good news: The tumor was benign. The bad news: The seizures continued. She couldn't work and since then has collected a fraction of her income in sick pay. She couldn't drive, so her 18-year-old daughter, Marlee - who is about to graduate high school at Calvary Christian Academy - became the family chauffeur for siblings: Madison, 11, a fifth-grader; and Logan, 15, a Seabreeze High School freshman.

Despite 11 more ambulance rides and hospital stays, Davis persevered with her course work, graduated in Orlando on Saturday and took her children to Disney World. "I e-mailed all my teachers and said I am out of the hospital, will you give me a chance," Davis said. The instructors told her to catch up. "I would get behind, of course, but when I got out (of the hospital) each time, I would let them know and catch up again."

Instructor Iryna Malendevych, of UCF's Department of Criminal Justice/Legal Studies, was happy for her student. "Her level of dedication and personal motivation to achieve her goal was exhibited in every aspect of her work during my course," Malendevych said in an e-mail. "The level and the quality of work Katherine was submitting corresponded to graduate level work, despite her being only an undergraduate student with a lot on her plate." A UCF anthropology instructor, Patricia Silver, marveled at Davis' determination. "I can tell you that she worked tirelessly and against the odds," Silver said in an e-mail. "A couple of times, she called me from her hospital bed. She's a real inspiration."

Davis' daughter, Marlee, said her mom never failed to be supportive as she, too, headed for graduation, including a little competition between the two. "She's been really good to take care of this on her own but depended on me to drive her around. Our deal was, if I made straight A's, she would pay my (car) insurance, and if she made straight A's I would pay hers," Marlee said. "Actually both of us did (make A's), but neither of us paid, because we had too many other bills to pay."

Davis's mother and father, Sylvia and Bill Davis of Ormond Beach, also pitched in to help and are proud, if a bit worried about their daughter. "She's been in and out of the hospital, but the prognosis is good, although she is losing ground on her bills," Sylvia Davis said. "Hopefully she can get back to work soon." Davis will be heading to Shands Hospital for some evaluation and help to minimize the seizures. "She is the first of our five children to get a bachelor's degree," said dad, Bill Davis.

The new UCF graduate said she has already ordered books to help with her test toward entering a master's program at the college, despite her setbacks. "I have memory issues, but I don't have any issue with moving forward," Katherine Davis said. "I persevere, and my children are the sole reason I keep pushing forward. It's for them, and that's the bottom line."

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