Life can change in an instant. In high school, Jayci Robison was the star shooting guard on her varsity basketball team and had her heart set on playing in college. But immediately after a championship game in her junior year, Jayci became lightheaded and suddenly fainted.
This was the first of several increasingly frightening episodes. Jayci suffered from extreme migraines, became painfully sensitive to even the slightest touch, and began passing out several times a day. The cause of these symptoms remained a mystery for quite some time.
After several months, a team of specialists was able to uncover the source of Jayci's condition. She was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS); a condition that causes the nervous system to misfire, affecting blood flow and making the heart rate rapidly increase. POTS has no cure and, sadly, the diagnosis meant Jayci would not be able play basketball at the level she dreamed of reaching.
Now a few years removed from her diagnosis, Jayci receives infusion treatment at her local Coram center every four weeks. “I’ve been going to Coram for six years now,” she says. “I have a designated chair my nurses know to try and save for me, one perk of being a patient for so long.” The treatments last about eight hours, during which Jayci tries to sleep off some of the drowsiness caused by her pre-infusion medications. She also spends some time watching TV and catching up on homework.
The infusions introduce donor blood plasma that helps to temporarily correct Jayci's nervous system. The treatment takes a toll, but Jayci has formed some tight bonds at Coram over the years. “Although the side effects of the infusion are difficult to handle, I love seeing my nurses every month. I really consider them friends at this point, and I’m so grateful for how accommodating they’ve been.”
Though draining, the infusion sessions and other medications help Jayci lead an active life. In her spare time, she loves cooking for friends, reading, and spending time with her family and her dog. “She’s not a registered service animal, but she never leaves my side when I’m sick. And puts aside her hyper personality to lay in bed with me on the bad days,” Jayci says of her four-year-old boxer.
Despite the unfortunate end to her athletic aspirations, Jayci has still chalked up an impressive academic career. She is currently in the process of completing her MBA at Oklahoma State University. After getting her master’s, Jayci plans to pursue a PhD in organizational behavior. “I’d like my research to help others battling hidden disabilities feel more prepared when entering the workplace. I believe biases occur due to lack of education. My goal is to help produce tangible ways in which managers can be better educated for the proper treatment of the disabled.”
With Coram cheering her on, it is clear that this one-time basketball star has found ways to use her own hidden disability as motivation to mount a remarkable comeback.