She began her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in 1992, and on May 4 Jennie Nimtz will finally achieve her ultimate dream of graduating college in the face of continual health problems.

Nimtz, 28, has been stricken by major health problems which have prolonged the time she has devoted to her studies at Eastern.

She has cerebral palsy, which confines her to a wheelchair. She is also legally blind, has two areas of brain damage, a seizure disorder and has pancreatic problems.

Nimtz, a senior health studies major, also needs to be on oxygen 24 hours a day and has a long term I.V. surgically implanted in her chest.

Premature birth caused Nimtz’s health problems. She was born three months premature, and weighed less than two pounds.

“My parents were told I wouldn’t live through the night, but I’m still alive today,” Nimtz said.

Nimtz has had hepatitis this year, and suffered a couple of respiratory failures in the past two years. Throughout the ten years she has attended Eastern, Nimtz has been in the hospital 65 times and almost died five times.

“My body is fragile, but I’m not terminally ill,” Nimtz declared. She is aware that she could die in the next six months, or ten years, but she doesn’t let that keep her down.

When the time came for Nimtz to choose a college, her friends recommended Southern Illinois University. However, the size of the university bothered her, as did the fact she would be known as a

number.

She looked into attending Eastern and immediately liked the class sizes, the faculty and everyone else she met. Nimtz also liked how close the buildings were to one another. While attending Eastern, she found support from everyone.

“I love Eastern. I have had so much support from the president’s office on down,” Nimtz said.

Nimtz lived in Ford Hall for about seven years. She recalled a time when officer Art Mitchell from the University Police Department helped her and her friend, who is blind, walk from Carman Hall to Ford.

The person who had walked with Nimtz and her friend was unable to walk them back, so she had to call the police.

“Officer Mitchell shone his flashlight in front of my wheelchair and walked us back,” Nimtz said. Mitchell had promised Nimtz he would be there to see her graduate.

The University Police Department and the Charleston Fire Department, which was also the emergency service, were helpful to Nimtz while she attended.

Although Nimtz loved Eastern, she had several difficult times. Anytime she fell, no one was allowed to help her. The paramedics had to be called every time.

Nimtz said that the sidewalks were awful in her first few years at Eastern.

“I have gotten minor whiplash twice. They need to continue to work on the sidewalks,” Nimtz said.

While at Eastern, she would talk to the administration about making Eastern a more handicapped-accessible place. Nimtz was persistent about making her voice heard for herself and on the behalf of other handicapped students.

“Eastern doesn’t have a large number of handicapped students, so I was patient about them getting stuff done,” Nimtz said.

As she continued her higher education, Nimtz found herself in the hospital more often then at school.

“I finally had to stop attending. I remember that I just cried and cried about it. I thought I was giving up on my dream entirely,” Nimtz said.

Nimtz would not allow herself to be discouraged. Her parents, both teachers, had instilled in her the desire to be a productive member of society. She also felt that when she graduated, she would have no regrets in her life.

“I would dream about my graduation day like women dream of their wedding days,” Nimtz said.

Nimtz had earned 94 credits by the time she had to stop attending. She wasn’t able to leave her house, and she called Eastern to ask what she could do.

Nimtz was able to finish the rest of her courses online.

On May 4 Nimtz’s dream will come true. Representatives from the University Police Department and the Charleston Fire Department will be there to see her graduate. Officer Mitchell will be there to shine his flashlight for her.

After graduation, Nimtz will continue with volunteer work. She wishes she could work at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, but because she can’t leave her house, she calls another very ill patient who can’t leave her own house.

“I call and visit with her because she can’t go out. Eventually I hope I can call more people and possibly get up to five people,” Nimtz said.

Although Nimtz knows she will be unable to use her diploma for a job, she is happy.

“Now I can be happy knowing I will have no regrets in my life,” Nimtz said.