Haleigh Jenna Golden
July 29, 1998 - November 6, 2018
Haleigh Jenna Golden, age 20, was a senior at the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences. Her career-driven attributes led her to double major in Communications and Journalism, with double minors in Sports Media & Promotions and Public Relations. In addition to her elite academic standing, she served as President of the Lambda Pi Eta honorary fraternity. She was a member of the university’s CommuniCATS communications group that brings students and alumni together. She expressed her spiritual beliefs and values as the Editor-in-Chief and a senior writer for the Cincinnati’s journalistic publication, The Odyssey. She attended Crossroads Uptown Church and Young Adults Youth Group while studying in Cincinnati.
A 2016 graduate of Marysville High School, Haleigh was a Peer Mentor, In the Halls newspaper contributor, a National Honor Society member and the PR officer in LEO Club where she displayed her compassion and inclusion for people by volunteering her time and talents. She was also a member of the MHS Symphonic Choir, Swingers Unlimited Show Choir, and the Production Manager for Marysville’s Summer Theater Workshop, as well as a company dance member at the State Street Performing Arts Center. A skilled soccer player, she was passionate for collegiate and professional sports, especially UC Bearcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Above all her accomplishments, she remained a compassionate and beautiful daughter, loving and unwavering sister, and loyal and humble friend. To her family she was witty but thoughtful, to her friends she was hilariously sassy with a dash of sweet, and she had an intrinsic and empathetic love for all creatures, especially pugs and goats. Her Godly inner beauty was reflected in her creative and artistic abilities and Haleigh left a lasting impression on all those who knew her.
During Haleigh’s second semester she wrote an essay for the UC alumni contest with the prompt “What does success means to you?” Below are Haleigh’s own words…
“Business, economics and the stock market dominates much of today’s world. Although these are important factors for maintaining a sense of financial stability throughout the globe, the dramatic emphasis on money and material items have become the defining standard for success. The more wealth and assets within a person’s possession, the more one is considered successful. However, these factors are just a small portion of what true success really looks like, and just a fragment of what society should use to measure the success of its people.
The shape of success is fluid and malleable and is something different to each individual. For some, success is accomplishing personal goals that may not have a broader impact on society. For others, success could be achieved through the execution of actions that have a greater societal benefit.
In my own life, success is a delicate balance between personal achievement and societal contribution. My perspective on life changed drastically since being diagnosed with “epilepsy” last December, following completion of my first semester at UC. Forced to adapt my lifestyle into a new and unfamiliar territory, my ability to comprehend this unexpected hardship proved difficult. But through faith, family and friends, I began to see how the definition of success is truly situational. Success in this aspect of my life means owning and overcoming my health struggles, so that “epilepsy” does not define or limit any of my capabilities. As with all things, there are times that I struggle and lose sight of hope and health. But, success is prevailing through those moments of doubt, and persevering through obstacles, so that I can continue to improve my health and live a better tomorrow.
Additionally, I believe that serving my community is a crucial factor for success, because it is important to guide and support others in ways in which they are unable to help themselves. I use my own struggles as a means to relate, help and educate others. My background and my story is unique among my peers, and thus, an opportunity to build upon for those with whom I am closest. If any minute detail or major milestone of my journey can be of some value to anyone else, it is worth my time and effort to serve as an educational tool. These instances are markers of success because I know that I am committing myself to educate others, and how the general public should view and care for their health and well-being.
Success does not have a concrete definition that is applicable to each and every situation for any individual. Every person on this Earth will have something different to which they consider their greatest success. Above all else, we as a society should learn that success is personal, but no success story is worth less than another. Success is in the eye of the beholder. In my life, my greatest success story has been and will continue to be how “epilepsy” unexpectedly turned my life upside down and my ability to conquer that hurdle. While striving for good health, the University of Cincinnati has been the ultimate place to thrive. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and will soon be inducted as the next president of Lambda Pi Eta for Communication majors. This university is my home, and I know that UC is the best atmosphere to help me achieve success."
From Haleigh’s Parents
In order to attend college, it was highly recommended by Haleigh’s pediatrician that she receive the Meningococcal vaccine that we were told would protect her while living on campus. Tragically, our beautiful daughter lost her life to vaccine-induced seizures after living with grand mal seizures for a couple of years. It was our understanding that Haleigh shared her situation with only a few of her most trusted friends, expressing to us that she did not want to be treated differently. In the months before Haleigh’s passing, we believe she may have begun sharing more with others.
Haleigh was slowly healing, and showing promising signs of improvement with seizure activity decreasing. However, when Haleigh unexpectedly passed away, we were completely caught off guard, our hearts utterly shattered. At that time, we were unsure of who knew of the circumstances surrounding her death, and therefore Haleigh’s obituary states she died of “natural causes”.
There is nothing natural about vaccine-induced seizures! However, as anyone could imagine, we were in shock, and grieving, and at that time advised and thus chose to list Haleigh’s passing as such, until a time that her family could properly share what Haleigh had been actually living with. That spring our family shared more details at “Haleigh’s Heart Town Talk”.
We will never stop sharing Haleigh’s truth and speaking for the countless others we have connected with! We miss you so very much Haleigh, and we will love you to the moon and back, always and forever......... no matter what!
Haleigh’s Obituary - Underwood Funeral Home
