Community Corner

Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Spurs Local Grad to Walk for a Cure

Voted as Miss Kings Park Pride, class of 2011 grad, Lauren Serzanin says she has too many goals to be held back.

Lauren Serzanin was in junior high when out of the blue, her legs went numb. Doctors couldn’t put their finger on what was happening. It was a year later, when it happened again in her face and hands when doctors gave the teen the news that she had Multiple Sclerosis.

An MRI on her brain revealed 15 lesions, but doctors said Serzanin’s case was mild.

“At first I was blowing it off,” said Serzanin, a 2011 grad of Kings Park High School. “It was something I was ignoring, but my dad convinced me that it was something I was going to need to accept.”

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She headed off to Northeastern University where she attends college and just two weeks into her first semester, Serzanin became completely overwhelmed, the reality of the diagnosis was sinking in.

“I was so upset, I couldn’t concentrate,” said the now 19-year old who was voted Miss Kings Park pride as a senior. “I was so scared I would wake up and not be able to do what I was used to doing.”

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With the support of friends and family, Serzanin started to bring herself out of the fear. She instead began to focus in on something her doctor told her.

“She told me that it was a possible to find a cure in my lifetime,” said Serzanin. “I became proactive and started researching the disease instead of taking it as a life sentence.”

Free from symptom right now, Serzanin, former president of her class, said she loves her time back at home in Kings Park visiting friends and former teachers.

"I've lived in Kings Park all life. I love it there. Whenever I am back I go back to see my teachers. I love going back there. I keep in touch with some of them."

She found an MS walk in Orlando, where she is currently interning for Disney, and decided it would be a good way to raise awareness and funds for research. Her roommates jumped at the chance to help.

I had a goal of $500 and reached it in three days,” said Serzanin.  “So I decided to go higher. I can make more people aware.” March is MS month.

“The walk is through the  National MS Society. All donations go to funding, helping people with MS and research to finding a cure, “said Serzanin. “That’s my goal I want to find  a cure while I am still here.”

Her fundraising goal – she’s at $1,000 now – is between $1500 and $2,000 and says just a donation of five dollars can make a difference.

“I’ve done so much research on it and the things you read are heartbreaking,” she said. “I have so many goals, I don’t want this disease to hold me back. I want to make sure I can help others.”

Donations for Lauren's walk can be made at http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/laurenserzanin


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