HARRISVILLE — Jennifer Gilliland’s fierce independent streak never allowed her to ask anyone for anything but prayers since being paralyzed by a debilitating disease 27 years ago.

But as she faces the fact that her physical condition no longer allows her to work, Gilliland, 42, is finding that God is providing for her through those who support her.

Gilliland was a freshman at Slippery Rock Area High School when she woke up one day with burning pain in her legs.

As she got ready for school, she found that her legs would not work properly.

While her parents implored her to stay home, she insisted on going to school because if she did not attend choir rehearsal, she could not participate in an upcoming performance.

“I didn’t think I could get on the bus,” Gilliland recalled from the hospital bed in her living room, where she has spent the better part of the last four years, “so my dad drove me to school that day.”

During first period, she went to the bathroom, where her legs gave out.

Within minutes, Gilliland — then Jennifer Gannon — was in the nurse’s office screaming in pain due to swelling in her spine.

“When I walked in that door, I could hear her screaming at the top of her lungs,” said her mother and main helper, Cindy Tuskan. “It was the type of scream a parent doesn’t want to hear.”

On that day, May 8, 1996, Gilliland was transported to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where she and her family soon received news that the 15-year-old had transverse myelitis, in which a virus attacks the spine and renders its victim permanently paraplegic.

“Two people in one million get it,” Tuskan said.

Gilliland spent seven days in Children’s Hospital receiving high doses of steroids to reduce the swelling in her spine.

She then spent more than two months at the Children’s Institute for Rehabilitation to learn to sit up, dress and care for herself as a paralyzed young woman.

“I never felt sorry for myself or questioned why it happened,” Gilliland said. “My goal was ‘what do I have to do to get home.’”

After graduating in 1999 from Slippery Rock high school by attending classes at school in the morning and via a tutor in the afternoons, she enrolled at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., to study business administration and marketing.

Her mother was less than thrilled about her daughter driving her adaptive van to a strange place to attend college, as Gilliland still had medical needs that Tuskan, who is a nurse, was tending to.

“She said ‘I don’t care what you say. I’m going and no one can stop me,’” Tuskan recalled. “She is one of these goal-oriented people who’s like ‘how do we get this done?’”

Gilliland was thrilled to be in North Carolina, where the weather allowed her to transfer from her wheelchair into her van and go anywhere she wanted.

She worked in the Office of Student Affairs at St. Andrews and as a resident adviser in her dorm.

But a brown recluse spider bite forced her to return home shortly after graduation for several surgeries, including one to remove most of her right shin bone.

Still, the persistent Gilliland got a job as an analyst in the investigations department at the federal storage mine in Boyers.

Shortly after that, her brother introduced her to Martin Gilliland, and they were married about a year later.

“A man was not part of the plan,” Gilliland said. “I met Marty, and it was really love at first sight.”

The couple enjoyed their laid-back life, going on an annual vacation and church trips together, and binge-watching TV shows.

But further health problems have dogged her since 2019, including two blood infections and a failed surgery that ended in gangrene.

Next, doctors informed her the transverse myelitis was disintegrating her hip joint and the only treatment was amputation.

Today, Gilliland struggles not only with her pain, financial difficulties and challenges of daily life, but with the notion that she can no longer work and support herself.

“I feel disabled for the first time in 27 years because all I’ve ever wanted to do was be a productive member of society,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Jen is a very Christian woman, and she fights this battle every day without complaint,” Tuskan said.

While she has retained an attorney to help her apply for disability benefits, Gilliland said she posted a request for prayers and listed her health challenges on her Facebook page after a moment of quiet prayer.

Since then, individuals, groups and churches have been donating to help Gilliland.

“People instantly rallied,” she said. “It is absolutely amazing.”

Her older sister set up an online fundraiser to help Gilliland out with medical bills, mortgage payments, food and other incidentals as she faces a future of decreased independence.

But don’t expect to find Gilliland weeping and whining over her lot in life.

“I’m blessed. I have a good life,” she said. “Whatever happens, there’s always a rainbow or something good that comes out of it.”

Those interested in helping Gilliland can search “Jennifer Gilliland prayers and support” on gofundme.com.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser also will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at the Slippery Rock Township Building, 155 Branchton Road, Slippery Rock.

All proceeds will benefit Gilliland to help with medical and other expenses.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 724-498-5957 or 724-992-3604.