永不放弃. Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.
When a severe bacterial infection left Mackenzie 佐丹奴 in a coma, doctors worried she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk never mind graduate college.
But 佐丹奴 wouldn’t take no for an answer. After almost three months in the hospital and intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy, a determined 佐丹奴 defied expectations by walking, talking and earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from 布里奇沃特 State.
“I wanted to get better,” said 佐丹奴, who completed her degree in December. “I wanted to get my life back.”
After graduating from 布里奇沃特-Raynham Regional High School in 2018, 佐丹奴 enrolled at the University of Alabama, where she earned a spot on the cheerleading team. During her first semester, she started to feel ill and got into a car crash when she tried to drive herself to the hospital. In addition to bacterial meningitis, she suffered a stroke that weakened her right side and had an abscess on her brain. At one point, doctors didn’t think she would survive.
But 佐丹奴 made a remarkable recovery and turned her attention back to college. 布里奇沃特, which is just five minutes down the road from her home, was a natural fit as she increased her academic load from a couple of courses to becoming a full-time student again.
“I thought I would eventually go back to Alabama,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much I would actually love BSU. I felt very comfortable there. It was awesome.”
佐丹奴, who still has some weakness in her right side, praised Student Accessibility Services for help with accommodations such as having a notetaker and extra time to write answers to exams. Professors, she said, were equally supportive.
“They at first helped me ease back into college,” she said. “They were just wonderful. They were so accommodating and nice.”
After exploring degree possibilities, 佐丹奴 – who has always been an athlete – found a fit in exercise physiology. She hopes to become a nurse so she can help others just like the many medical professionals who assisted her.
“I think I would make a great nurse,” 佐丹奴 said. “I can inspire people because I’ve been through it.”
She’s already doing so just by sharing her journey.
“永不放弃,” she said. “Always just fight for your goals because anything is possible.”
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