College student keeps up fight against MS
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When she was a freshman at Hempfield Area High School, Ashley Contino developed troubling symptoms that prompted the school nurse to phone her mother to pick her up.
"Ashley was dizzy, tired, had a headache and numbness on the left side of her face," recalled her mom, Tina Contino.
After driving her daughter to the family doctor, Mrs. Contino was advised to take her directly to the Westmoreland Hospital emergency room for testing. Hospital staff referred her to a neurologist who did blood tests and a spinal tap.
Four days later, he diagnosed Ashley, then 15, with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms vary from person to person but can include fatigue, loss of balance and numbness.
Rather than letting the disease dampen her spirits, Ms. Contino, now 19 and an accounting major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, fought back.
"I refuse to let MS get me down," she said. "I'm working 21 hours a week on campus and taking 15 credits at the same time. I feel the best medicine is to maintain a positive attitude."
She has fought back by organizing fundraising events for research by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that have brought in more than $75,000 through two dinners and annual MS Walks.
"Ashley's an amazing woman," said Kim Fecich, director of development for the Western Pennsylvania MS Chapter, who noted that Ms. Contino is one of the area's top fundraisers for MS. "She and her family have greatly aided our research efforts as well as our local services and programs."
Ms. Contino is the daughter of Tina and Robert Contino, who live in Hempfield near Jeannette. Mr. Contino works as a regional service manager for Johnson & Johnson. Mrs. Contino operates a baby-sitting service from her home and is youth director at the First Presbyterian Church in Jeanette. Ms. Contino has one sister, Amber, 22, who also attends IUP as an elementary education major.
First Published March 24, 2011 5:24 am
