The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.
by Jessica Cline
Staff Writer
In August of 2021, junior Janine Humeidan was excited to start a new year of high school. A few weeks later, she went into cardiac arrest at a family event from a rare genetic heart disorder. Later, she soon figured out how this was going to impact her life forever. In the hospital, she survived a double heart transplant. After a complication from her life support, it led to a leg amputation below the knee. More than a year later, the question has been asked of, where is Humeidan now?
After being in and out of different hospitals for around four months, Humeidan was thrilled to return to normal life. Her absence impacted many people inside and outside of Bradley. They all missed Janine’s smiling face everyday. Her senior year will be her first full year of high school from the amputation of her leg and from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Janine’s 17th birthday present came early and she was out of the hospital in the middle of December. Soon after, she started physical therapy but there seemed to be one big thing that was motivating her. Janine explains, “ all my doctors and like my PT’s [would ask], what is one thing you want to be able to do again and I was like field hockey. That was the one thing.”
Six months later, she did it. She jumped into her field hockey senior season and crushed it. Hilliard Lynx Field Hockey Head Coach, Coach Kowalski, expresses, “I assumed she would be our moral support throughout the season. She almost died, came back to school in a wheelchair, and then within the year could run and play on her prosthetic.” Her whole team including her coach was ecstatic to play with her again. Janine has impacted so many people with her story. Learning how to walk again reminded her of field hockey and having to work really hard through her season.
Through Janine’s journey, her big family, her field hockey team, her teachers and her friends have shown support tremendously. A specific person that was filled with excitement to see Janine’s return was her best friend, Jenna Cross (12). Jenna was and still is by Janine’s side through every step of the way. In Janine's absence, Jenna explains, “it was really hard not having my best friend around at school.” Through the end of their junior year, they weren’t always able to be at school. Finally, Jenna and Janine are able to enjoy their whole senior year together, back and better than ever.
Janine had a big group of people behind her back, especially her hospital team and all the nurses that took care of her. Nurse Anna and Janine met through the midst of Covid. She helped through the whole process of when Janine was in the hospital. Nurse Anna says, “Taking Care of Janine each shift brought me hope that something good was happening in the hospital.” Both of them very much impacted each other for the rest of their lives. Without even knowing Janine helped Anna to be excited about being a nurse everyday. She explained everything that went into helping Janine, “There were several machines to manage- labs to interpret, multiple care teams to notify. Hair to wash, skin care regimens.” Nurse Anna will always express the true honor she had to care for Janine and her family. While on the other hand, Janine's family will always appreciate how much hard work they put into helping Janine.
Fast forward to the present day, Janine continues to raise money and spread advocacy for The American Heart Association. Her doctors and physical therapists show immense support to her while she is able to represent The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Jenna Cross will always express how much of a hard worker Janine is.
Nurse Anna mentions the lasting impression is her living a full life.
Coach Kowalski had been taught from Janine to never take anything for granted and explains how she is a one-of-a-kind person.
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