lbc-echo-spring-2022 - 13

When Solomiya was just three months old, her left
side became paralyzed from a spinal infection that
developed into severe scoliosis-a curvature in
the spine. Solomiya's scoliosis was so severe that it
confined her organs in a way that caused difficulty
breathing. In fact, Solomiya recalls moments in the
past when walking up the stairs would leave her
winded and out of breath.
Over 24 years, Solomiya, a Washington State native,
underwent 20 surgeries. In 2015, two 10-hour
surgeries called Vertebral Column Resections
improved her quality of life greatly. The success
of these procedures made Solomiya taller and
straighter, which provided more space for her
lungs to help her breathe better as well as more
independence.
Shortly after starting her education in 2018 at
Summit International School of Ministry-which is
among LBC | Capital's many official partnerships-
Solomiya discovered the rods placed in her spine
during the Vertebral Column Surgery had broken.
" This was devastating news, " Solomiya shared. " I
didn't want to quit pretending I was fine, but it was
time to take care of my health again. "
After a two-and-a-half-month absence, Solomiya
returned to Summit's sprawling Pennsylvania
campus to finish her first year in person. Nothing
could take Solomiya away from pursuing education.
Her desire to learn and earn a degree pushed
her forward day after day despite her difficult
circumstances.
" Throughout the rest of my Summit/LBC
experience, I used a walker and navigated through
many health obstacles, " Solomiya said. " I did not
want to quit. " After transitioning to online education,
Solomiya completed assignments from hospital
beds while studying at Summit in the months
before her surgery and amid doctor's appointments
afterward. She also finished courses while traveling
to places like Arizona and Oregon.
Online learning did not appeal to Solomiya at first,
but it soon became evident that taking courses this
way could be a perfect choice for her. " During my
first year of Summit, I wasn't interested in being an
LBC student, " she said. " But when my second year
of Summit started, the desire to be an LBC student
became stronger. " She discussed how beneficial it
was to work around her own schedule, learn out of
state and see the advantages of dual enrollment.
Solomiya recalls moments when she felt God's
presence during her educational journey. " God
'showed up' through every hardship, He gave
me physical strength to show up to class, " she
remembered. " God showed up by illuminating
more of His character to me as I learned from the
courses I took. " Solomiya shared that her LBC |
Capital courses also helped her grow not only in her
spiritual life but also in how she ministers to those
around her.
Currently working as a substitute teacher, Solomiya
hopes to instill determination and courage into each
of her students. " I get to live out my passion, which
is to help young people persevere and help them
believe that there is hope, that they don't have to
be a product of their environment, " she said.
She can point to evidence of this in her own life,
as she walked across the Good Shepherd Chapel
stage in December 2021 and accepted her diploma,
ultimately pushing herself to do greater things for
the kingdom of God.
Learn more about the online programs available
at all educational levels at LBC | Capital by visiting
lbc.edu/online.
" God showed
up by
illuminating
more of His
character to
me as I
learned from
the courses
I took. "
- Solomiya Dezhnyuk ('21)
ECHO 51
13
http://www.lbc.edu/online
lbc-echo-spring-2022

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