Hi all, Thank you for your support, patience and understanding as I am still editing the book with each phase a little more work than I first anticipated. Ive had some great help from literary types Ive consulted with and my goal is to make this the best possible telling of Marins story Im capable of. That said, Im now at the end of April and not ready to meet the deadline I stated out the outset. But it wont be long!! I promise more consistent updates from here on in. Please enjoy this excerpt from a climactic chapter in the book: ----- Soon every spectator in Water Cube was on their feet cheering Marin home. I could see she was absolutely exhausted and watching closely for any impending trouble. With 20 meters remaining, our brave little girl reached out for the wall, far too soon to complete the race. My heart stopped. I broke my silence, yelling “Keep going Marin! You’ve got to keep going!” I realized that she was confused about where the finish was. She was swimming on her back, and where there is usually a line of colored flags above the pool to indicate the approaching finish during a backstroke race, the string of flags was not in place for the freestyle. Above the loud encouragement up in the stands I could hear Nancy screaming my same thoughts, “Keep going Marin! Keep going!!” Marin continued to stretch her left arm reaching for the distant wall. She kicked forward. Once, twice, than she turned to glance over her left shoulder. The wall was 15 meters away. Oh NO!! I still have a lot to go. I HAVE to touch that wall. The fifteen remaining yards had to seem like a mile. It would be a handful more strokes, but she was completely spent. Now it was test of all the physical and mental strength she could possibly still summon. It was survival. It would take everything she had left. With a standing ovation now urging her home Marin resumed her quest. After three more pulls with her depleted left arm she was close enough that I realized she was going to make it. SHE’S GOING TO MAKE IT! One more stroke and a reach. Not enough. Another stroke and reach. Not there yet. What the Hell?! Where is that wall?! Then on her final stroke and before her arm circled back down to the water, Marin floated in to the wall with the crown of her head. She was not going fast enough to hurt, her left forearm landed on top of the wall, her shaking hand reaching to grip the edge of the pool. The moment was an awesome spectacle of joy and incredible relief. The fans were on their feet cheering wildly for a last place swimmer that had just displayed exactly what the Olympic spirit is really all about. Thank you God. I’m done. That was the hardest race I’ve ever been in and I made it! “She did it. She DID IT!” Nancy was saying through her tears as she shared hugs with Camie, Michael, Aunt JoJo and Andy Hay. “She DID IT!” After spending every ounce of her energy, Marin mustered just enough to duck under two lane ropes crossing to the pool ladder where I was there to meet her. She could barely hold the ladder when I reached down to grab her under her arms and hoist her to a seated position on the deck. Marin let out a deep breath of relief and exhaustion. “You did it Marin!,” I said with a beaming grin, draping a towel around her shoulders, “You did it! I am so incredibly proud of you.” She didn’t say anything and her face didn’t register a response, but I knew she understood. Marin was too gassed to offer any reaction. The wheelchair traffic at the exit point allowed her to sit on the wall for several moments and gather some strength. When she lifted her arm signaling she was ready, I picked her up in my arms and placed her comfortably in her chair. Marin then dipped her head in humility and she finally cracked a smile. She had done it, accomplishing everything she set out to do. She had touched the wall, fulfilling her dream and her destiny. As we wheeled away on the pool deck I could hear Nancy still cheering, “YAY MARIN!” Fans continued to applaude as we made our exit. “Can you hear mommy?” I said, trying to point her up to the stands where we might get a glimpse of Nancy and the kids. I wanted to her to see the crowd and soak in this moment of her lifetime. Marin smiled. “You did it Marin, you finished that race,” I said to her again. “I did? Really?” she replied. I wasn’t sure if she was only humoring me or only now allowing the reality to sink in. In her exhaustion, she might have been a bit confused. “Yes, you did it.” On our way back to the changing room we were intercepted by Kristin Rocky and her NBC cameraman for a short interview. Marin couldn’t really keep here eyes open from the dizziness, let alone gather any words for the camera, so I answered Kristin’s few questions for her as best I could. Next to Marin wearing a proud and ever widening smile, I told Kristen why this moment was so special. “Just the fact that she was able to realize a dream, and swim here… and just made it happen and finished. And fulfilled what she has been striving to do for a long time. Just to be here. This is incredible.” Sunday, September 7, 2008 1:57 AM CDT The theme to the Beijing Paralympic Games is Amazing Awaits and on Sunday morning, amazing arrived as Marin displayed all the courage and determination any athlete ever has. In starting and completing her 100-meter freestyle race, she conquered the worst that her brain cancer could challenge her with, and in the space of two laps in the Olympic pool at the Water Cube, she delivered perhaps the least competitive and yet certainly the most inspirational athletic performance I have ever witnessed. The scene was absolutely spine-tingling as the other swimmers in her heat were finishing around the times they were seeded with, and Marin was well back in the 50-meter pool, struggling home to finish a very long race for her in the condition shes in. Seemingly aware of her entire 3-plus year struggle, the completely packed Water Cube began to erupt in emotional support as Marin battled over the last 25-meters. Her picture prominent on the big screen, she was cheered on to the wall as no last-place finisher has ever been. Regardless of her place, for Marin, starting and finishing this race was the victory of a lifetime. A month ago, Marin was in the hospital under hospice care after a brain scan showed she had intra-cranial bleeding and we werent sure if she would last the night; a condition we endured for several days. With a fifth brain surgery not an option, all we could do was wait, hope, and pray that the bleeding would stop on its own and her body could absorb the swelling and heal to the point where she could begin functioning again. She couldnt swallow, so feeding and nutrition were a big concern and her strength was waning. Regular readers here will know that there were very few entries during this period, as there have been at various times this summer because we were essentially living at the hospital, too engrossed in Marins health issues and there was very little positive news to report. Three weeks ago she still couldnt swallow; after nine days at Childrens Hospital, we moved her back home because there was nothing more being accomplished. Through it all, Marin remained steadfast in her determination to survive and continue in the pursuit of her dream to swim in Beijing. Her functions began to improve, her medications seemed to help and she suddenly began to eat well. So we took her to the pool at the Bellevue Club most every day; some mornings she wasnt able to swim a lap. Others, she would sail across the pool a few times, her exquisite backstroke reminding us she has a purpose in her life. But her stamina was limited. Always, though, she appeared much better in the water than she did on land. Our own Incredible Ms. Limpett (classic Disney Movie fans will get it). Now, a lifetime in the balance and a half a world away, her dream has come true; were bursting with pride and happiness, and Marin has fulfilled her destiny. Saturday we were running around with too many complications to sit down and update everyone. As we made the final preparations for Marins Paralympic debut, we also welcomed her Eastlake High coach Andy Hay here to Beijing. We had two tickets to the Opening Ceremonies with Nancy and Camie ticketed for the show, but the wonderful people at the USOC came through with two more, so Dad and Mikey went too. Aunt Jojo stayed with Marin as she ate dinner and went to bed early for our 5:30 am wake up call. Very few of the swim team members attended the opening Ceremonies as most were competing on Day 1. The show in the Birdsnest was terrific and we all had a great time. Now Marin is getting ready for her best event, the 50-back on Monday morning. Again, this will be a victory if she starts and finishes, but her confidence is strong now and she has only 50-meter events remaining. We were energized on the pool deck by the cheers we could hear specifically for Marin and were excited about doing it again tomorrow.Swimming strong and proud for the USA,Marin & Nancy, Matt, Camie, Michael, Aunt Jojo and Coach Andy Hay.PS: Look for the Paralympics telecasts daily on Universal Sports - check universalsports for listings. - Caringbridge Journal Entry ----- Thank you all again for your terrific support and understanding as I get this project polished, finished and delivered. MM
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:09:21 +0000
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