By Dave Denniston
CARLSBAD, California, December 19. MARIN Morrison has battled more at the age of fifteen than most people deal with in a lifetime, and she continues on with a smile. In March of this year doctors found a tumor in Marin’s brain and removed it with a 50% chance of return. In August, the tumor came back.
The tumor was removed from her brain again on August 15th, but this time the surgery left Marin paralyzed on her right side. She can’t see out of the right side of her eyes, and her speech has been severely affected. Her smile is as strong as ever.
Her family has recently relocated to Seattle where her father has taken a new job. The community has adopted Marin as one of its own. Bellevue Swim Club has welcomed Marin, and she swims with a team at the Seattle Children’s Hospital everyday that she gets the chance.
Marin is trying to reconnect neurological pathways with her therapy, and her speech patterns are coming back. She is making slow but steady progress with fire and determination in her eyes. As her body is changing every day, her tenacity and remarkable attitude remain unscathed. The fuel for her drive and determination comes from her dauntless spirit. The swimming pool rejuvenates that spirit.
"She needs to swim as much as she needs to breathe," wrote her mother Nancy on Marin's Web site. "Once she's in the pool, she's feeling great."
A lot of college swimmers and club swimmers alike are dreading Christmas training. Traditionally, the hardest training session of the year, Christmas training consists of doubles, sometimes triples, and lots of intensity and pain. For most, this is a time of year that athletes dread and meet with anxiety. Marin can’t wait for her next opportunity to work out.
Lately, the Morrison family has been battling the insurance companies so Marin can continue to get the therapy she needs. More can be found at www.marinlove.com. She has a journal that is updated daily as well as a message board. She needs our prayers and support. At the very least, we can thank her for inspiring us.