Fighting to Help Others Walk Again

Marissa Koscielski ’17, ’18M.S., was in eighth grade when she fractured her pelvis and lower back in a gymnastics accident. Instead of slowly healing, she developed flu symptoms, bruising, numbness and then grueling pain. She endured numerous infections, and then an allergic reaction caused a platelet dysfunction. Her skin began to break down and her hair began to fall out. By May 2012, she was paralyzed on her left side from the waist down and was losing neurologic function on her right side.

Her mom, Maureen McNulty ’18MNA, suspected a bug bite might be the culprit of the mysterious illnesses. As she watched her daughter’s condition worsen without explanation, McNulty decided to take Koscielski to the Mayo Clinic.

Read more here.

About the Series:

The University of Notre Dame’s award-winning “What Would You Fight For?” series showcases the work, scholarly achievements, and global impact of Notre Dame faculty, students, and alumni. These two-minute segments, each originally aired during a home football game broadcast on NBC, highlight the University’s proud moniker, the Fighting Irish, and tell the stories of the members of the Notre Dame family who fight to bring solutions to a world in need.

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September 14, 2019

Health and SocietyScience and TechnologyMatthew LeevyEntrepreneurshipESTEEMInnovationMedicineMendoza College of BusinessTechnology

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