Nothing Separates Student From Her Diploma
FROM THE MORNING NEWS:
By Steffani Nolte
Published: May 29, 2011
(FLORENCE, SC)—Most seniors graduating high school seniors think about getting their diploma, throwing their caps into the air and going to parties when it’s time for them to graduate.
That’s exactly what Hartsville High School senior Destinee Hailey was dreaming of until a week ago. Destinee was a healthy young woman until she started not feeling well last week.
“We really don’t know what her condition is. All we know is her kidneys had stopped functioning, so she’s on dialysis for now,” her mother, Andrea Hailey, said.
Destinee spent her last week of high school at McLeod Regional Medical Center in the oncology/hematology unit undergoing tests as doctors with Pee Dee Nephrology try to figure out why her kidneys failed.
Throughout the week she met and touched the lives of the nurses on her unit.
“We don’t see a lot of people her age at our unit, so when we do, they always kind of reach out and pull at the heartstrings a little more than some of the other patients we see more often,” Pam Elliott, director of oncology/hematology, said.
“Destinee is a very sweet young lady who I found to be someone like my daughter,” nurse Jobie Myers said.
Destinee’s doctors and nurses were doing their best to ensure she would be able walk across the stage at Hartsville High with her classmates Friday, but she spiked a fever and they couldn’t release her.
“So we got together this morning and I said, ‘Gosh, I really wish we could bring the graduation to her,’ and one of my staff nurses said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Elliott said.
They called Hartsville High and principal Dr. Charles E. Burry thought it was a great idea.
“We’ve had rain and some other adventures, but we’ve never had graduation at the hospital,” Burry said.
The hospital and high school staff teamed up to throw Destinee her own graduation ceremony at the hospital Thursday afternoon.
Destinee’s father, Roosevelt Gatison, brought her cap and gown from home and she walked down the hallway to “Pomp and Circumstance” as all the staff members on the floor applauded her.
“I was very surprised. I’m proud, yeah I am,” Destinee said.
“It’s a big deal for a young person, one of the mile stones in their life and we’re glad we could do this. It’s going to be a pleasure to pronounce her as a graduate of Hartsville High School,” Burry said.
Destinee was the first senior from Hartsville High School to receive her diploma this spring, the first graduate of the Class of 2011, an honor student with a full scholarship to Benedict College in Columbia.
“I’m proud of her. I’m glad she made it and I want her to be happy and continue on,” Andrea said.
“Destinee has gone a good job pursing that goal (preparing for the future by learning every day) and fulfilling her potential. She has a bright future a head of her once she gets past this little medical bump in the road,” Burry said.
Destinee said she is grateful for everything the doctors and nurses have done for her. She still has to remain on dialysis while doctors work to find out what is wrong. She’s hoping to be healthy enough to begin her freshman year at Benedict College this fall majoring in Biology, eventually becoming a Veterinarian. For now Andrea, Roosevelt and their family/friends are praying for Destinee’s health to improve.
“God is good so he’s going to make her well,” Andrea said.