Secaucus Young Woman Shares Her Story Of Having Tourette's Syndrome

SECAUCUS, NJ — This Saturday, June 1 will be a very special event in Secaucus, organized by a young woman who grew up in town.

This is the first-ever Tourette's Syndrome Awareness Walk. It will be held from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 300 Millridge Road. The walk is co- sponsored by Mayor Mike Gonnelli, the town council and the Secaucus PBA.

The walk is organized by Brianna Hawxhurst, now 20 years old. She grew up in Secaucus.

At the age of 5 years old, Brianna was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. She is currently a nursing student at Montclair State University, where she is studying to focus in pediatrics.

Brianna wrote her college essay (you can read it above) where she shares how her childhood was destroyed by having Tourette's Syndrome. She said she gradually lost friends due to her tics, and she would cry herself to sleep every single night.

She said she found hope when, in seventh grade, her mother told her something: "God only gives difficult challenges to those that can handle them."

She wrote that those words changed her life, and today "I remember how lucky I am to be original, to be me." Read Brianna's beautiful essay and come to her walk this Saturday to raise money and awareness of Tourette's Syndrome.