Keeping the Faith

If you haven't already seen the compassion of the class of 2010, walk the halls of Watauga High School Friday.

Students have declared Friday "Faith for Christine Day," and all classes will be wearing Christine Dagher's favorite color, blue, in her honor.

"She's pretty determined; I guess that's the word for it," WHS senior Ruthanne Edwards said.
Her childhood best friend, senior Christine Dagher, is in her second week at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Seniors at Watauga High School are there in spirit.

"As soon as I heard the news, I started thinking, 'How can we help Christine out,'" student body president Dylan Russell said. "We decided showing our support was the best idea."

Dagher can use the support. Just more than two weeks ago, a severe headache sent her to the hospital. She lost consciousness in the car. Scans confirmed she suffered a severe brain hemorrhage.

Friend and fellow senior Abby Foster had lunch with Christine the day she got sick.

"She was perfectly fine," she said. "Then I got a text message the next day and it said to pray for her."

Friends say Christine is lucky to be alive.

"I was talking to my mom about it," Edwards said. "I would have passed it off as a headache."
She has no doubt the quick actions of Dagher's father, a surgeon, saved Christine's life.

"Lately, she's doing pretty good," Edwards said. "She's talking. Her speech is slurred, but if you listen to it, you can understand."

Through it all, both Dagher and her family are in good spirits, Edwards said, and it's an inspiration to WHS.

"You can only imagine how frustrating it is to be completely there in mindset, but have physical limitations hold her back," Russell said.

Dagher's recovery has been incredible, but she still has a long way to go. WHS will be with her every step of the way, Russell said.

"It's important for Christine, and it's also important for our school, to know that no matter what happens, we are a loving and supportive school... we are the Pioneers, and we are always going to stick together," he said. "We're going to do whatever it takes."

Along with wearing blue, students are taking some inspiration from Dagher herself and creating a unique tribute.

"When she and I were younger, I remember going to her house and making earrings... she has the best creative eye for beauty," Edwards said.

In honor of that eye, students will each place a bead on a string, making a wish for Dagher.

"When she gets the necklace... when she sees the overwhelming support, it will give her more of what she needs to really bounce back," Russell said.

Students are also preparing a scrapbook for Christine.

Friday's event will unite students by a common thread, Russell said.

"Everyone will get to know Christine and get to know what is going on with her," he said.

When Dagher returns to Boone, not only will she get to graduate with the rest of WHS 2010, but she will have more friends than she can count.

"The way that she's progressed is incredible, and it's been two weeks," Edwards said. "I have no doubt that she will completely recover."

For updates on Dagher's condition, check out her Caring Bridge Web site, http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/christinedagher.