Setback to Comeback Senior Cory Crabb returns to campus after recovering hundreds of miles away for one year. of bed, until a nurse came and yelled at him,” Fowler said. “He stayed who he was in the sense that he does stuff for the love of entertaining and making people laugh.” Upon returning in fall 2023, Crabb stated he had experienced apprehension. “I was worried people would see me as the ‘that’ guy,” Crabb said. “School work was so much harder, and I missed meeting nearly 100 people from my club and the one I’m a beau for.” Despite his worries, the Harding community went above and beyond helping Crabb readjust to campus life. “It was all love from so many people,” Crabb said. “I was surprised how willing people were to come up and talk to me.” The Harding faculty also made a huge difference in Crabb’s return, helping with housing and class accommodations. “The Harding disability office will fight for you,” Crabb said. “I didn’t think I’d have any help at all, but it feels like you have an army behind you.” Since his return, Crabb continued to bring joy to others through his enthusiasm and humor. “Even if it is just a regular day, it feels like an event,” junior Jacob Page said. “He brings an energy, almost like a gravity, to everything he is a part of.” Crabb remained thankful to be on campus, bringing life and fun to others, despite the hurdles he experienced. “The fact that I’m able to be here and in the dorm is a miracle,” Crabb said. “My first full year back wasn’t the same, but I was given the ability to be myself again.” Written by Asa Fowler The start to the fall semester welcomed students back for another year of classes, memories, sports, growth and, for one student, the continued path to recovery. During senior Cory Crabb’s 2022 summer internship with Dry Bones, an organization in Denver, Crabb was diagnosed with New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) syndrome after suffering multiple seizures. This led to a nearly nine-week stint in the hospital in a medically induced coma, during which he was given a 30% chance of survival and 1.5% chance of recovery. After prayers and visits from members of the Harding community, Crabb began to show signs of improvement. Against all odds, Crabb was released that August. He spent the next fall and spring semesters at home recovering in Lebanon, Ohio. Despite his condition, Crabb longed to be with the people he made meaningful connections with back on campus. “The first time I cried was when I was told I would not be going back to Harding,” Crabb said. “It made me realize I had relationships I was going to miss out on.” Being isolated from the Harding community proved difficult for Crabb during his year off-campus, but he did his best to remain in touch. “Seeing people on social media at mixers and functions . . . I would have killed to be at one of those events,” Crabb said. “The best part of my day was when I could FaceTime someone at Harding.” Crabb’s former roommate, alum Drew Fowler, remembered one of these calls. “I remember him FaceTiming in the hospital and he was doing pushups, while he wasn’t supposed to be out CRABB ON CAMPUS Senior Cory Crabb continues his education at Harding University after a year long recovery away from campus. Despite his difficulties, Crabb continued to bring joy to those around him. Photo by Abigail Callicoat 124 People
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