At 15, when this high school sophomore was at church, a bat flew in during mass. “Everyone started waving their hats around,” Jeanna says. “All of a sudden, someone whacked the bat to the floor.” That’s when Jeanna, a true animal lover, remembers coming to the rescue. “I could see it was still breathing,” she says, “and I just wanted to get it outside.”

When she picked up the bat by the wings, it screeched loudly and bit one of the fingers on her left hand. Jeanna quickly released the bat and went back into church. She showed her mom the bite, and they went home and washed the wound with peroxide.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” she says. “I’ve been bitten by animals before. Besides, it was a small mark, and it didn’t even hurt anymore.”

Something’s Wrong
An entire month went by, and with the busyness of involvement in sports, church and other activities, Jeanna didn’t give the bat or the bite another thought. Then one day, she developed tingling and numbness in her left arm.

Later, when Jeanna developed flu-like symptoms, her mom rushed her to the hospital. “I could barely walk or talk when I got there,” Jeanna said. “They ran a bunch of tests but couldn’t find out what was wrong, so they transferred me to Children’s Hospital.” That’s where they finally tested her for rabies.

By the next morning, it was confirmed by a team of eight specialists that Jeanna was in the full-blown stage of rabies. Anyone bitten by a rabid animal and who’s not vaccinated within the first 24 hours usually dies a few days after the onset of symptoms.

Jeanna had no idea what was going on as the disease took its toll, but once the news was out about her having rabies, she had a whole world of people praying for her. “They were e-mailing my mom from all over saying they were praying.” Her aunt even posted a prayer from Psalm 91 outside her door.

It was obvious that Jeanna needed a miracle to survive. “The doctors told my parents they could either let the disease run its course or try something risky in an attempt to save my life.”

So Jeanna’s parents put their faith in God and let the doctors try something that had never been done. “They put me in a coma to shut down everything else and only keep my vital organs working,” Jeanna says.

For over a week, doctors gave Jeanna a mixture of four powerful drugs and watched her every breath. While the world prayed for a miracle, Jeanna was in a deep sleep. Ten days later, those prayers were answered when a sleeping Jeanna slowly began to wake up. She became the first person in the world to ever survive rabies without a vaccine.

“I hated all the cameras and publicity,” she says, “but knowing it helped the doctors, other rabies victims and that God got the credit, I was OK with it.”

Returning to Normal
Even though Jeanna survived, she had a long way to go. “I had to have tons of therapy,” she says, “and learn to do everything all over again.”

Some of those are things we often take for granted. Over the next few months, Jeanna learned to walk, talk and even run.

Jeanna spent her sweet 16 summer catching up on schoolwork, learning to ride her bike, riding roller coasters at Disney (thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation) and swimming with the dolphins.

“It was hard,” Jeanna says, “but by the end of summer, I was pretty much back to my old self.”

When all Jeanna’s friends got their driver’s licenses, she wanted hers, too. “I knew with prayer and a little practice, I could do it,” she says.

Even though her left arm was a little slower around turns and was jerky at times, she wasn’t about to give up. And a few short months later, she took the road test and passed every obstacle on the course. “It’s really sweet to be able to drive where I want to go now!”

Jeanna did have to give up some things, though, such as sports.

“It was tough sitting on the sidelines watching my friends,” Jeanna says. “But even though I can’t play volleyball, basketball and softball right now, that doesn’t mean I have to totally give up sports.”

In fact, Jeanna is participating in a new sport, horse driving. Instead of riding the horse, competitors sit in a cart and show the horse at a walk and trot. She had her first competition this past spring. “I came in fourth,” she says. Someday, she hopes to take first place.

But Jeanna knows winning isn’t everything. “It’s about having fun and being able to do what you love,” she says. “And, thanks to God, I’m definitely doing that.”

Jeanna is hanging out with friends, spending time with her family, working with animals and seizing every opportunity God puts in her path.

Jeanna was even invited to the Milwaukee Bucks opener in the fall of 2005. They asked her to sink the opening shot of the Bucks’ NBA season in front of 18,000 people.

“I was so nervous,” she says, “I even missed the first shot.” Under her breath, she said, “This is so embarrassing. God, please let this one go in."

She tossed the ball up again. The ball swooped up, hit the rim and slammed through the net! The crowd stood to their feet and gave Jeanna a standing ovation.

Jeanna is definitely a survivor, in more ways than one.

“It’s just as the Bible says,” she says, “All things are possible with God. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without Him.”

Fun Facts About Jeanna
• Her freshman year she played varsity basketball and softball.

• Her sophomore year she played varsity volleyball.

• She graduated on time with her class in 2007.

• She currently owns two dogs, 11 pheasants and one rabbit.

• Her favorite animal is a horse.

• She worked at a petting zoo.

• She owns a 2004 Ford Ranger in her favorite color, blue.