On Monday, Oct. 24, around 4 p.m., an ambulance pulled into Demuzio Campus Center (DCC) parking lot to take freshman elementary education and physical education major Destiny Barnett to the hospital. At the time of the incident no one really knew what had happened to Barnett; many bystanders claimed “she just collapsed.” Barnett said,“I was feeling very tired and had chest pains out of the world, but that didn’t stop me from attending any of my classes. I was done with classes and on my way to work when the incident happened. I told [my] roommate Brianna and my sister Antenece Barnett. My friend Victory Odunukwe went and got our RD Alondra Olvera and before I knew it I passed out.”
The ambulance took Barnett to the hospital where she was told she had costochondritis. The National Library of Medicine defines this condition as “an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone, or sternum.” This condition can cause uncomfortable chest pain for those inflicted. Barnett didn’t know she had this condition and said, “Honestly, this was my first time being admitted to a hospital. I have never broken a bone, been very sick or anything. I was very scared – scared for the fact that I didn’t know what was going on and scared for the outcome.”
Barnett notes that she is okay now and is feeling much better, “I wake up every morning with the unbearable chest pains and go to sleep with them. I try not to let them interfere with me or my classes.”
“I would like to give thanks to all my wonderful friends who were there for me and texted me every morning and night. I want to give thanks to Alondra, and I would also like to thank Brooke Meyer from the bookstore. They all helped me,” said Barnett.