Not Giving Up
Emily Elola straightens her hair for her date with her fiance, Roldany Victariano, the night before Valentine’s Day at their apartment in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday, Feb. 13. “I often straighten my hair all the time and don’t bother to reach to straighten my hair from behind,” Elola said.
Emily Elola is determined to live a life of normalcy. She was diagnosed in October 2025 with a nervous system disorder, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, also known as POTS. According to John Hopkins Medicine, POTS can cause symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, severe fatigue, brain fog, headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting. These symptoms often occur during long period amount of standing or excess exercise where Elola will gain a rapid heartbeat. These symptoms do not keep Elola from doing the things she wants to do in life such as being a student. She is a current student at Western Kentucky University studying Parks and Recreation with a focus for event planning. Whenever Elola feels her symptoms worsening, she uses a wheelchair, cane, or rollator to keep her from standing or walking for long periods of time. Elola lives with her fiancé, Roldany Victariano, who assists her in physical activities.
Elola speaks with her professor, Rachel Green, about her group project she was working on in her recreation planning course at the Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium on Western Kentucky University’s campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Friday, Feb. 27. Elola is often unable to attend class or arrive late do to her limited physical activities. “ She helps me by giving me extensions and allowing me to miss and catch me up,” Elola said.
Elola pies slaps in the face Mateo Robles at the Centennial Mall on Western Kentucky University’s campus in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday, Feb. 13. Robles is a part of the Sigma Nu fraternity. The fratenity was raising money for cancer, and let people either give the option to pie slap a fraternity member or buy a rose. Elola chose to pie slap Robles. “Eres letanio?” (“Are you Latino?”) Elola asked in Spanish. Robles said yes. “Hablas Espanlo?” (“Do you speak Spanish?”) Elola asked again in Spanish. Robles said no.
Sharlie Rich helps transfer Elola to the next bus driven by Holly Borders to get to Elola’s apartment on Western Kentucky University's campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Friday, Feb. 13. “I feel bad that they have to do that for me, but I also have to have them do it,” Elola said.
Sharlie Rich secures Emily Elola’s wheelchair on Western Kentucky’s University’s bus on Friday, Feb. 13. Rich has secured many wheelchairs on a bus before because she drives buses for special events. “I am used to this because I have drove for special events that I helped the elderly in wheelchairs,” Rich said.
Elola uses the campus bus transportation system to get to her apartment from campus on Friday, Feb. 13. “The day before and knew that walking around would wear me out, but I still wanted to enjoy my (mostly) normal day of campus life,” Elola said. “The wheelchair helps me do that.”
Elola sweeps her living room while she did not feel well to attend her classes on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Elola said she knew she cannot make it to class because her back is sore and felt fatigued. She often cleans her apartment to keep it tidy almost every day while Victariano, is at work. “He’s doing everything he can to keep me out of work and comfortable at home,” Elola said. “I do the chores because it feels fair to me.”
Members of her inclusive recreation class play wheelchair basketball with Elola at the Kummer / Little Recreation Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Friday, Feb. 27. Elola said the class offers more inclusion for people with disabilities for recreational activities. “It makes me feel more included since I am able to participate in our recreation activities,” Elola said.
Elola takes anxiety medication in her kitchen of her apartment on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Elola said that the medicine can help her symptoms for POTS. “When I get anxious, my nervous system doesn’t know how to handle it so I get sick,” Elola said.
Elola often asks Victariano to help clasp or tie her shoes so she does not get nauseous bending over because of POTS at their apartment in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday, Feb. 13. “The reason I have energy to go to school and stuff is because he helps me rest to be able to do it all,” Elola said.
Victariano takes Elola before to their date from their apartment on Friday, Feb. 13. She said they went the day before Valentine’s Day because it would be less busy. “He’s there through the good days and he’s been here through my diagnosis,” Elola said.
