Sonia Cox didn鈥檛 feel right. There was pressure in her chest.
She asked her husband, Robert, to pull the car over in a parking lot. She vomited due to the pain.
Robert wasted no time and drove his wife of 26 years straight to Viera Hospital in Brevard County. Doctors told her she was having a heart attack.
鈥淚 just started crying,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 only 48. How can this be?鈥�
鈥淲e found out it was congenital,鈥� Robert adds. 鈥淪he鈥檚 lucky it didn鈥檛 happen sooner.鈥�
Fast forward 369 days, and Sonia will suit up in her cap and gown Dec. 15 as one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 5,700 fall semester graduates.
鈥淚 was just thinking about this the other day: A year ago, I was in a hospital, and now a year later I鈥檓 getting my degree. I can鈥檛 believe it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited, happy and emotional because it鈥檚 been a long road.鈥�
In Sickness and In Health
Sonia and Robert met in 1988 as employees at a Walmart in east Orlando. Robert was attending 麻豆原创 at the time, and Sonia had just moved to the area from California.
Weeks later, Robert asked her on a date to Olive Garden and a short road trip to visit his sister, who was a student at Stetson.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited, happy and emotional because it鈥檚 been a long road.鈥� 鈥� Sonia Cox, 麻豆原创 graduate
鈥淲e have been inseparable ever since,鈥� Robert says.
In May 1991, they were married on 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus near Ferrell Commons and had their reception at Wild Pizza, a dining spot that has since closed.
Robert left school before graduating to accept a full-time position in retail management. Through the years, his job moved their family 16 times before they relocated to Titusville in 2011.
It was around this time that Robert was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson鈥檚 disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has no known cure.
鈥淪he鈥檚 incredibly supportive and encouraging, but it鈥檚 been difficult,鈥� Robert says. 鈥淏eing best friends and the love we have 鈥� that鈥檚 just what makes it work.鈥�
鈥淒o Not Ever Give Up on Your Dreams and Goals鈥�
For as much as Sonia has supported her husband through his health issues, Robert has been there to encourage her through her journey in returning to school.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a goal of mine,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I first graduated high school, I went to college. Things changed. I met [Robert], got married, had the kids and put my life on hold. Once our kids got older, that鈥檚 when I decided to go back. I was determined to follow my dream.鈥�
She started at Eastern Florida State College in 2013. After earning her associate鈥檚 degree, she enrolled in 麻豆原创 Online鈥檚 interdisciplinary studies degree program, with focuses on public administration and education and a minor in Latin America studies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a goal of mine.鈥� 鈥� Sonia Cox
After her heart attack, she spent a week in the hospital before returning to her job at the Brevard County Property Appraiser鈥檚 office. The next month, she enrolled for the spring semester to stay on track to graduate.
On Dec. 7, 2018 鈥� her 49th birthday 鈥� she picked up her cap and gown at 麻豆原创 FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. Her other big birthday plans: go shopping for a new dress to wear to the commencement ceremony, where Robert and their three children will be in the stands to watch her cross the stage.
鈥淚鈥檓 very, very proud of her. After all these years, she never thought she would be able to accomplish this goal,鈥� Robert says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 grown so much through this process, not just through the education part, but personally as well.鈥�
Sonia says she would like to pursue a career where she feels like she鈥檚 helping the community, whether that鈥檚 in the government, education or nonprofit sector.
Wherever this degree takes her, she knows 麻豆原创 will always remain a part of their lives.
鈥淚t truly is like family to us,鈥� she says.
As she reflects on the experience that has brought her to this point, she shares some of the life lessons she has learned and the advice she would give to those still in school:
鈥淏e honest to yourself and others. This starts by being yourself.鈥�
鈥淒o not be afraid to make mistakes and admit them when you do.鈥�
鈥淟ive in the moment. Plan for the future. But most of all have fun.鈥�
鈥淔all in love. And that can mean a lot of different things.鈥�
鈥淒o not ever give up on your dreams and goals.鈥�
