Rabies survivor graduates from college

SHEBOYGAN - Earning a diploma is arguably one of the most exciting moments in a college student’s life. But 21-year-old Jeanna Giese of Fond du Lac believes no one is more excited and appreciative on Lakeland College’s graduation day than she is.

“For me, it's more of a sense of accomplishment because it's not just the last four years of college. It's the almost seven years since I had rabies,” said Giese.

It's a miracle Jeanna Giese is alive today, let alone graduating from college.

In 2004, the then 15-year-old was bitten by a bat at church. Thinking nothing of the small wound, it went untreated. One month later Giese was on the brink of death, she had rabies.

Too late for a vaccine, her doctors turned to an experimental treatment, putting her in a drug-induced coma and giving her antiviral drugs. It worked, making her the first person in the world to survive rabies without a vaccine. Now, seven years later, graduation day is striking a chord.

“It probably does mean more to me just because I've worked through so much to get to this point,” said Giese.

With years of physical therapy and rehabilitation, you can barely notice a difference between Giese and any other graduate here. But she does still suffer some repercussions from the virus.

“I have a lot of neurological side effects. A lot of it’s with balance, a lot of it is running, “said Giese.

But nothing, she says, can stand in her way when it comes to accomplishing her goals. And her proud parents say seeing this one come to fruition is extremely emotional.

“It's very special. I think we all believed it was gonna happen,” said John Giese.

“It's just exciting, special. Every step she does is a big deal,” said Ann Giese.

Because with every step Jeanna Giese takes, she gets one step closer to a normal life.

Giese earned a degree in biology. She says despite getting rabies, her dream is to work with animals and raise awareness about the virus that nearly claimed her life.