Jillian Daughtry Overcomes Odds to Live Her Dream
At the age of 8, Jillian Daughtry began suffering
from severe migraine headaches. By age 13, she was
passing out for unknown reasons.
“The doctors couldn’t explain what was happening to
me,” Daughtry, now 22, said. “Then, after a while,
it just stopped.”
But during her junior year at Clinton High, all the
problems returned.
“I began passing out and having fainting spells,”
she explained. “I didn’t know what was going on. I
was at Clinton High for three years and then my
parents split over that summer and I moved back to
the Salemburg area. I spent my senior year at
Lakewood High because I wasn’t allowed to drive back
and forth to Clinton.”
Because of her condition, Daughtry didn’t spend much
time at school, though.
“I missed a lot. I even spent a week at UNC
Hospitals,” she said. “But I had a very high grade
point average, so I was able to work with an
adjusted scheduled and, despite all that I was going
through, I was still able to graduate.”
It was during that senior year that Daughtry was
finally diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope, a
disorder of the heart that results in extreme
fatigue, headaches and fainting spells.
She was accepted to every college that she applied
to, however, she chose to attend Campbell University
so she could be closer to her parents and
grandparents. Jillian continued to battle the
symptoms of her disorder, extreme fatigue and
seizures.
During one of her many trips to the doctor, Jillian
was told by a nurse about vocational rehabilitation
and how they helped her get back to work.
Daughtry went to the VR office in Sampson County and
applied for support, which she immediately received.
“They were just great to me,” she attested. “The
support, the help that they gave me was just
incredible. I know I could have never have gotten
through all of it without them. God took care of me
and put VR in my life.”
Last May, Jillian was presented with her degree from
Campbell University with honors. Despite her
personal condition and tragedy, she had managed to
make the Dean’s List every semester.
By the end of June, she was hired as a teacher, a
position, she felt, that would allow her to inspire
others.
“I now teach fifth grade at Coats Elementary School
in Harnett County,” she said. “It is absolutely the
best job ever.”
Jillian made a presentation to VR employees recently
and couldn’t have been prouder of her experience.
“They closed my case officially in October,” she
said. “I went in and presented my success story. I
just had to thank them for everything they did for
me, because it wouldn’t have happened without them.”
VR Manager Scott Daniel said he was thrilled with
Daughtry’s success. Jillian came in and really
wanted to work hard. She is an inspiration as far as
I am concerned.”
Courtesy of The Sampson Independent
