Susan Lagudi:
CLASS OF 1979
Green High SchoolClass of 1979
Green, OH
Susan's Story
After graduation, I joined the Air Force and became a radio and television broadcaster. After 6 years in the Air Force , I got out and followed my husband all around the country supporting his Air Force career and having a family. My husband retired from the Air force after 26 years and we now reside in San Antonio Texas. As of this August, my husband and I have been married 25 years.
Our youngest, Robert, is 10 years old. ( I was pregnant with Robert at our 20 year reunion ) We have another son Sal who is 18, just graduated high school and will enlist in the Air Force in the fall.
Our first child was Lauren who was born in 1989. Lauren graduated High School in 2007 and decided to follow in my footsteps and became an Air Force broadcaster. In August of 2008, after finishing her basic training and Broadcast training she went to Aviano Air Force Base in Italy for her first assignment. In November, we recieved a phone call that she was in the ICU with Toxic Shock Syndrome and we were told to get to Italy as quickly as possible so we could say goodbye to her. Within 24 hours my husband and I arrived in Italy to be by our daughters side. After 17 days in a coma and after many prayers, Lauren woke up and recovered fully. I am here to tell you that God answers prayers and miracles do happen. We were able to bring her home with us for the entire month of December to allow her to recuperate and in January she returned to Italy to continue living her dream.
Shortly after her return, we found out that she was named the outstanding new broadcaster of the year for the entire Air Force. She had only been on the air for 3 months and that was enough for her to beat out other broadcasters that had been on the job for up to 18 months. The judges were all from comercial networks in the states and knew nothing of her illness. We could not of been more proud!
Before I tell you the rest of the story, I need to tell you this. Toxic Shock Syndrome is still aflicting many woman every year and it can take your life. Make sure all the women in your life know to be careful. It happens when a tampon is left in too long and the more asorbant the tampon ...Expand for more
the more dangerous it is. The tampon can travel up to the point that you can't even feel the string. You must be very careful to remember if one goes in, one must come out and it is best to rotate between a pad and tampon. It attacks your body like septic shock and spreads through your body shutting down your organs one by one. I thought this was something that happned when we were in High School and I never realized it still happens. Please help me spread the word and save lives.
Now for the rest of the story. For the next 10 months Lauren continued to kick ass and take names. She was a natural on the air and had way more beauty, confidence and talent than her mother ever had.
Then on October 18th of this past year, the nightmare started all over again. An Air Force Colonel and First Sergeant showed up at our door to inform us that our daughter was missing in Italy. Her body was found at the Pordenone train station the next day. The investigation continues, but it has been determined that she was not attacked as first thought and suicide has also been ruled out. It seems to be a tragic accident that has broken the hearts of all that knew her. She accomplished more at 20 years old than most people do in a lifetime. She was doing a morning radio show with a fellow broadcaster Jarrod and we recently found out that they won best radio show in the Air Force for 2009.
Lauren was laid to rest at Fort Sam National Cemetary in San Antonio with full military honors. If you would like to learn more about my daughter, you can go to LaurenLagudiFoundation.org or you can google her name to see some of the outstanding work she did as she served our country.
Please take my advice and love your children every day. I know they can drive you crazy sometimes, but you never know what the future holds. I am so proud of my sons and thank God every day that I have them. Without them, I don't know that I could get out of bed in the morning.
Through this tragedy, I have also learned to appreciate everyone in my life, including all of you. I would love to reconnect with my friends from high school and if you are also interested, please give me a holla.
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