This weekend hundreds of Elon University students will be participating in ElonTHON, a 24-hour dance marathon committed to raising money and awareness for Duke Children’s Hospital.
One of the many dedicated participants involved with the event is junior Tessa Kroninger. As someone who has benefitted from the proceeds of ElonTHON and experienced first-hand the life-changing wonders of Duke Children’s Hospital, her heart will be beating three times faster for the cause — literally.
At the age of 14, Tessa was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a rare disease that affects the heart’s ability to circulate blood throughout the body while in the upright position. This condition causes blood to pull to the extremities, the heart rate to double or triple, and the body to work twice as hard to remain in the upright position.
Tessa’s journey, however, is much more than the diagnosis of her disease.
Her story with Duke Children’s Hospital began seven years ago when she began feeling extreme exhaustion while performing day-to-day tasks. As weeks went by, her symptoms progressed to fainting, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and dizziness while she was performing these tasks.
“I felt unable to get out of bed and, when I did, I couldn’t even make it down the stairs,” she recalled. “On some days, it felt like I was running a marathon by just standing upright.”
Alarmed by their daughter’s condition, her parents immediately sought assistance from local pediatricians. However, as Kroninger’s symptoms were very rare, they were unable to identify the reason for her difficulties.
Desperate for a diagnosis, the Kroningers began the exhaustive journey of seeing a variety of doctors and medical practitioners in the community. Tessa’s father, Andrew Kroninger, said it was difficult to remain patient during the period of uncertainty and frustration.
“It was a nightmare — we bounced from doctor to doctor trying to find someone who could diagnose what Tessa had, let alone treat it,” he said.
Faced with a variety of rare symptoms, several doctors even began dismissing Tessa’s claims by accusing her of taking drugs or making things up.
“It was extremely hard knowing that many didn’t believe me. You’re told to trust professionals and that’s what I did. I essentially began doubting my own symptoms,” she said. “What I was going through was just so internal and unless you did the right test with the right monitors, you wouldn’t be able to find any trace of it.”
After Tessa’s mother, Caroline, inquired about her daughter’s condition among professional staff at Duke Children’s Hospital, cardiologist Dr. Kanter asked to see Tessa.
“I remember telling my mom that this would be the last doctor’s visit, the last blood draw and that after this, I would be done,” Tessa recalled. “I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I said no to that last attempt to find an answer.”
Tessa said she vividly remembers her first appointment with Dr. Kanter.
“I’m lying there telling him stuff, he’s looking at my vitals, looking at my chart, and you can just see the wheels turning,” she said. “It was the first time someone listened to me for more than five minutes without interrupting me and telling me that I was wrong or questioning my claims. He just sat there and listened to the entire story.”
Finally, within one day, one visit and one test, Tessa was diagnosed with POTS. While the disease does not have a single cure, Dr. Kanter worked closely with her to optimize her lifestyle through a variety of treatments.
“There was a point in our lives that we did not know if Tessa would ever get out of bed, go to school, graduate high school or even make it to college. With Duke's Doctors she has been able to accomplish all and much more,” Caroline said.
“It started off with weekly appointments, then monthly and now they are yearly. In the process, I developed a huge family,” Tessa said. “It was just an incredible experience to be at Duke and to be listened to.
Though Tessa takes four medications every morning and one every four hours to maintain her blood pressure and heart rate, she has been able to earn countless accomplishments with her improved condition, determined personality and optimistic view on life. She has gotten the opportunity to encounter invaluable experiences such as the Semester at Sea program.
Tessa said she urges THON participants to realize how much of a difference they are making.
“If you only think about the 24 hours of dancing, you have a completely wrong idea. 24 hours is not a huge chunk of time. What you’re doing during that time is impacting people’s lives for months or years — and I’ll be right there with you.”