Right now, the world might feel chaotic, but alumna Mayuri Saxena’s story could give us all the confidence and inspiration we need to overcome any new challenges that come our way. When Saxena ’13 was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, just three years ago, she did what she’s always done, looked on the bright side. “I’ve always tried to find the positive in everything,” says Saxena. “That doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared, upset, or asked God, ‘why me?’ It just means once I got beyond all that, I found the silver lining.” In her recently published book, Pursuit of Happiness: From Heels to Wheels, Saxena shares her journey in the search to find inner peace and happiness. “In two years, my life shattered all around me. I lost my marriage, my career, and my health,” says Saxena. “But ALS gave me a chance to reevaluate life, see what’s truly important, and find my real joy.”     

A neurodegenerative disease, ALS causes muscles to weaken and eventually paralyze. For Saxena, living with ALS began when her right leg began losing muscle mass and involuntarily twitching. “A week before Christmas that year, I fell for, what at the time, seemed like no reason,” she recalls, communicating through an eye-gaze technology that enables her to use her eyes to type words onto a screen and generate speech. At 35, she’s now a quadriplegic, meaning she can’t move any of her limbs, and she’s on a non-invasive ventilator. But her drive to embrace life and live life fully with optimism and grace, is ever-present. “That’s why I wrote the book. I wanted people to see that life is bigger than the job that you have or the money that you make. There’s so much more to life and it can change in a flash. Don’t get caught up in the rat race.”  

Coming to John Jay   
A few months before that first fall in December 2016, Saxena was one of five John Jay alumni recognized at the 2016 Alumni Reunion, taking home the Outstanding Alumna award. The accolade was no surprise to her fellow classmates. Anyone who knew Saxena during her John Jay years was well-aware that she was a hard worker and someone her peers could rely on. As a student at the College, where she earned an M.P.A. in Inspection and Oversight, she earned accolades for academic excellence, including a scholarship from the New York Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner. And, as President of the M.P.A. Student Association, she inspired her peers to work harder and dream bigger. “I came to John Jay because I knew it was the place that could launch my public service career,” says Saxena. “I loved my time at John Jay. The students I worked with were so motivated to change the world for the better. And, the people at the College really provided me with the support I needed to succeed, especially when I was going through tough times.”  

Pursuing a Career  
Saxena attributes her tenacity to succeed to her dual identity as an Indian and an American. “I was born in India, and moved to New York at two years old,” she says. “I was living the American dream, and I worked hard to excel in school and at work.” While she had dreams of pursuing a career in engineering or the creative arts, her interest shifted to public service in the aftermath of 9/11. “It changed the trajectory of my life,” explains Saxena, discussing the tragedy. “It made me want to understand the complexities of international relations. I wanted to stop corruption, so I decided I would pursue a career in public service.” After successfully completing several government internships, she moved to Washington, D.C. for two years. In the fall of 2016, she returned to New York City and attended a job fair at John Jay, where she connected with a City agency and was later offered a job. “It was a great agency to work for with good-hearted people, a supportive boss, and a healthy work environment,” says Saxena. She began the job a few weeks before her first fall. 

Finding Happiness    
“The right leg went first, then I lost use of my left leg, then my arms,” she says, explaining how her body became paralyzed. Saxena was able to maintain her work schedule at first, using a cane, then a walker, and finally a wheelchair to move around. “I learned to navigate life as a ‘uniquely-abled’ person,” says Saxena.  

As the disease progressed, she had to stop working and now requires care 24/7. Assistive technology, like the eye-gaze control system attached to her bed, enables her to stay connected with family and friends across the world. She’s able to use her eye movements to type words on a screen and her iPhone. The use of a non-invasive ventilator means that Saxena can still use her voice to communicate with those around her while getting the vital oxygen she needs. And while ALS is life threatening, Saxena remains optimistic. “I don’t lose hope. I never will. I hope to participate in new medical trials to slow the disease’s progression,” she says. “I’m grateful for every moment. I live and celebrate my life every single day. And what I want people to learn from my story is to enjoy the present moment. Don’t get caught up in the rat race, chasing dreams that may not even be yours.” When asked if she had a message for the John Jay community, she turned her eyes to the screen. “Love you John Jay,” she types. “Be present. Now is all we have, love those around you, and live life.”