Vol. XVI No. 5
Winston-Salem State University
February, 1982
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ALEIAHDER COUNTY SCHOOLS
TAYLORSirtUtlLGl
Teacher’s Fair
Senior Ramona Pearson discusses teaching opportunities
in the Alexander County School System with county
representative at the Teacher’s Fair held recently on cam
pus. (photo by Greg Jones)
Freshman
Wins $100
By Percy Johnson
A freshman English major is the win
ner of the annual Patterson-Williams
Oratorical Contest. Anthony Ragland,
who is also vice-president of the
freshman class, received $100 for plac
ing first in the contest which was spon
sored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
on January 24.
Anthony’s speech was centered
around the struggles of blacks during
the 20th century and the contributions
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Finishing in second place was
sophomore Beth Day. Alphonso Smith
(freshman class president) finished
third in the competition. Both con
testants were awarded $50 and $25
respectively.
The topic of each speech was
“Saluting the Past, Securing the
Future.”
Student Overcomes Tough Battle
By Crystal Brown
Kim Graham was 5’8 and weighed 140
pounds before final exam weekend of
spring semester, 1981. She was a
member of the University Marching
Band, the jazz ensemble. Miss Groove
Phi Grove and worked as a waitress in
Greensboro, her hometown. Early one
Saturday morning, her feet feh numb.
By mid-day, the numbness had spread
to her knees. “It was a freak
experience,” she recalled. On Sunday,
Kim’s hands began to tingle.
Everything she smelled nauseated her,
and she became very weak. “I had to
have someone help me walk from my
room to the bathroom which is just
across the hall.”
The first doctor Kim saw said she had
mononucleosis,, the second said it was
just her nerves, and when she returned
to the first doctor, the diagnosis was
that her discomfort was
psychosomatic. When the numbness
had spread throughout her body, she
was admitted into Cone Hospital and a
psychiatrist tried to hypnotize her into
believing she could walk. By the next
Saturday, she was totally paralyzed.
Her illness was then diagnosed as the
Guillian-Barre’ Syndrome (See
Ciuillian-Barre’ Syndrome disease in
box on page 2).
She was pul into intensive care, “I
couldn’t blink my eyes, everything was
gone, everything, I couldn’t talk” Kim
said as tears began to fill her eyes. She
couldn’t remember some of the time
she spent in intensive care because
sometime.s she was just out of it. Kim
did remember the doctor telling her
mother that she was going to die, and
that they would do everything they
could to make her comfortable. “To
ever be on a bed and think you are
going to die is unexplainable,” she said
while tears rolled down her face.” All I
could do was cry. I cried and cricd so
much, I don’t think I have any tears
left,” she said sobbingly.
She became addicted to morphenc,
which was prescribed to her by the
doctors. This addiction resulted in her
going through a painl'ul withdrawal
period. Kim described the pain as being
the feeling of a hot iron lying on her
body. She couldn’t stand to be
touched.
Pastors would come and pray for her
and give her words ol' wisdom. Her
mother and friend I amont were with
her most of the time. She said she also
See Paee 2
An Example
Of
Courage
Kim Graham’spainful recovery
of Guillian Barre Syndrome, a very
rare disease, is a true example of
courage. This disease caused her to
become paralyzed and to lose a
semester in school. However,
because of courage and determina
tion, Kim is now back in school and
can get around with the use of a
cane.
J