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Ursuline cheerleaders pray for their friend’s healing
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Lauren Petro is known as a lion to her friends.
Because of this, they are confident in her strength to heal and get back to the Ursuline High School cheerleading squad.
The 16-year-old junior collapsed before a stunned crowd Tuesday at the Ursuline boys basketball game versus Massillon Perry.
“We are seeing improvement,” said Nicole Zielinski, 18, Lauren’s friend. “Her brain activity is really good.”
On Thursday evening, Lauren’s squad organized a prayer service for her in St. Christine Church on South Schenley Avenue. The pews were filled with people praying for Lauren’s strength and healing.
Before the service, Zielinski said she had just gone to see her friend in the hospital and told her about the service.
“She said, ‘Is it really that bad?’”
Zielinski told her no, but that everyone wanted to pray for her — and she responded with a thank you to everyone who did.
“She is just the best,” Zielinski said. “She’s a huge blessing to everyone.”
Lauren, who is known as an athletic and overall healthy, fun girl who always has a smile on her face, dropped to the floor while Ursuline’s starting lineup was being announced Tuesday.
“I was on the floor cheering with her, and I look over and she’s on the ground and she wasn’t moving,” said Kaitlin Goss, a freshman on the squad.
There were a lot of tears shed in those moments as nurses from the school worked to revive her.
The Rev. Richard Murphy, Ursuline president, told The Vindicator on Tuesday that Lauren lost consciousness when she fell, as well as heart function for a few seconds. Lauren was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital where she was stabilized and later transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital.
“We are just glad to hear of her continued positive improvement,” said Moe Donofrio, head coach of the Ursuline cheerleading squad. “We miss our girl. Every day is just another day closer to having her back on our squad.”
Before the service, cheerleaders handed out green and gold ribbons on a pin to wear in support of Lauren.
The service included traditional Catholic prayers and the recitation of the rosary. Bible passages were read that dealt with strength and healing.
At the end, the crowd stood and swayed together as it sang the Ursuline alma mater.
“She’s definitely the most carefree and kind-hearted girl I have ever met,” said Concetta Seidler, 17, Lauren’s friend.