A great coach died on Friday. Jimi came into our lives when David was recruited by Auburn University to swim for them. I was a nervous mom, and spent a few hours on the phone talking to the head coach, David Marsh, and assistant coach Jimi Flowers. I was so encouraged by these men. They were Christian men with fine family values and while I knew they couldn't be a part of my son's life every second of the day, I knew they would emulate the qualities our family admires. I have never regretted that David went to Auburn. He made some life long friends there.
Jimi ended up being Dave's breaststroke coach. Their communication styles clicked and Jimi was able to bring David along. In 2 years time, David was a national champion and well on his way to making the Olympic team. Then the bottom fell out. Jimi needed to leave Auburn for his family. His wife, Sue, whom he loved deeply, couldn't get her severe allergies under control in Auburn. We were so saddened to see Jimi and Sue leave, yet again, Jimi showed that family came first and he would carve out a career somewhere else. They went to Colorado Springs where Jimi worked for the Olympic Training Center. Jimi would remain in our lives.
Jimi continued communicating with David. We had some email contacts, a few visits when we were in Colorado Springs and Christmas cards. We would see him now and then at some competitions. David didn't make the team in 2000 and we heard Jimi threw pillows at the TV while watching the trials. Dave came so close but not close enough.
David moved to California shortly after that and trained with another great coach, David Salo. Jimi faded in our lives a bit, but stayed in contact with David periodically. The Christmas cards still came. David missed the 2004 Olympics then wandered around a bit wondering what was next. In Feb. of 2005, David had his accident in the mountains of Wyoming. He broke his back and became a paraplegic. Coach Salo, Coach Marsh, and Jimi Flowers were some of the first people to fly into Ft. Collins to be with him. David's accident shocked the swimming community and the support he was given was outstanding.
Over the years, Jimi had never lost touch with David. 2 years ago, he asked Dave to consider trying for the paralympics. I'm not sure what all went through David's head. His swimming would be much different than before. His once powerful legs were now a detriment. He used to have the fastest turns off the walls, now his legs would get in the way. Somehow, Jimi helped him overcome those mental hurdles. Jimi was with us when David made the Paralympic team for Beijing in 2008. He knew before we did but he didn't spill the beans. His joy for David and for us was so real. We all hugged and cried and whooped. How exciting that was.
David had to return to Colorado for another back surgery. Training for the paralympics would not be what it needed to be but Jimi encouraged David. When we arrived at the opening Ceremonies in Beijing our tears flowed when we saw Jimi pushing David into the Bird Nest. It was so awesome to see these 2 together. Jimi pushed him onto the pool for his first race. What a bond....
I didn't have the close relationship to Jimi that Dave had, but I knew he would steer him in the right direction. Jimi was a godly man that lived his values. He was the kind of man I would be happy for my son to imitate. I don't know why God allows such a man to be taken to his heavenly home when he seems to be needed so much down on earth, but I do know Jimi had a positive impact while he was here. My prayer for his family is that they remember his faith in Jesus, his strength to live a valuable life, and to continue to take Joy in the life given. What a gift Jimi was to all who knew him in any capacity.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
May 2009
I think I have to add to this blog periodically or it will drop. May has been interesting month for us. All started out well and then went down the tubes in a hurry. Tom was going to do a fishing tournament - a first in many years. He was pre-fishing with his partner when he started experiencing excruciating abdominal pains. He headed home. I took one look at his expanding belly and we headed up to the emergency room. To make a very long story short - we have spent too many days in the hospital AND Tom missed his tournament.
Tom had an obstructed bowel and had surgery. He got home on Tuesday the 19th and we've been easing back into a regular diet. Tom is still recovering - and I'm trying to stay calm and patient. I was supposed to go spend a week with our grandsons but that was out of the question. Today is our 34th anniversary - we might celebrate by adding another vegetable to the menu! We will get to see the grandsons soon and life will get back to normal, I'm sure. Wish it would hurry up though.
In between, David did insist he stay his dad while I attended my niece's graduation in Colorado. At the time, we thought Tom had an ulcer and just needed some IV time to help it heal. At the same time, Karyn was in Littleton playing in an Alumni band for her high school band instructor's retirement. My mom, sister, and I were able to attend that, too. I love watching Karyn perform. So the month wasn't all bad and I am really grateful that David "insisted" I go to Colorado.
Tom had an obstructed bowel and had surgery. He got home on Tuesday the 19th and we've been easing back into a regular diet. Tom is still recovering - and I'm trying to stay calm and patient. I was supposed to go spend a week with our grandsons but that was out of the question. Today is our 34th anniversary - we might celebrate by adding another vegetable to the menu! We will get to see the grandsons soon and life will get back to normal, I'm sure. Wish it would hurry up though.
In between, David did insist he stay his dad while I attended my niece's graduation in Colorado. At the time, we thought Tom had an ulcer and just needed some IV time to help it heal. At the same time, Karyn was in Littleton playing in an Alumni band for her high school band instructor's retirement. My mom, sister, and I were able to attend that, too. I love watching Karyn perform. So the month wasn't all bad and I am really grateful that David "insisted" I go to Colorado.
Monday, February 2, 2009
A new month
Tom had his surgery for his new hip - right one this time. Same doc, same place, much of it all the same. His recovery seems much better this time. Since it is January and cold and yucky, it isn't that hard to just veg inside. We have been playing lots of Wii - thanks kids for our Christmas present. I kick butt in Mario Cart. Tom is getting around the block a little bit, now that the roads are thawing and not so icy. We looked over our email from March of 2008 to see how his recovery from his left hip compared to this one. It spurred him on to get out and get going!
Here it is Feb. 2nd already. Our grandson, Timmy's, 5th birthday (if you don't count the day he was born as the first) yet, it seems like yesterday that he was born. Time sure flies. I haven't missed any of his birthdays but this one. We will try to go visit toward the end of this month - maybe make his baptism birthday.
Here it is Feb. 2nd already. Our grandson, Timmy's, 5th birthday (if you don't count the day he was born as the first) yet, it seems like yesterday that he was born. Time sure flies. I haven't missed any of his birthdays but this one. We will try to go visit toward the end of this month - maybe make his baptism birthday.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Marin Morrison
We were honored to get to know many of the Para-athletes in Beijing. They all have incredible stories to tell and we are proud of all of them. One young lady, we failed to get to know much. Her name was Marin Morrison. Marin came to our attention through a mutual friend, Glenn Mills, who was instrumental in setting up Dave's original website and produces Dave's swimming DVD's.
Marin was an up and coming swimmer when she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. Yep, the same year, Dave broke his back. Marin had several surgeries but was still training in the water. She, too, tried out for the Paralympic team in Minneapolis. We were able to talk to some her family/fans but still didn't meet her. She made the team just like David did. She went home to celebrate with another surgery just like David did. Her surgery was again on her brain - Dave's was on his spinal cord. Marin was quite a fighter and battled her deteriorating health all summer long. It seemed to us that it was a touch and go situation and her dream of participating in the Paralympics might not come true. She wasn't able to be with the team the entire time but she did make it to Beijing and she swam all her events.
When a person competes in the Paralympics, s/he has to be classified according to disability. This isn't an ongoing thing - classification seems to be set for a period of time before an athlete can be re-classified. Therefore, Marin was classified at a certain level but by the time she swam in the Paralympics her disability had further deteriorated. She basically swam all her races with one arm and bit of a kick with one leg. And she did that up against less disabled athletes. On one of her races, the entire crowd in the Cube stood and cheered her on. Another moment for tears to stream down faces.
I am sad to report that Marin passed away on January 2. Her family will be setting up a memorial scholarship to remember her courageous life. You can check out the details at their website: http://www.caringbridge.org/ga/marin/. While we didn't get to meet her personally, we do admire what she accomplished in her young life.
Marin was an up and coming swimmer when she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. Yep, the same year, Dave broke his back. Marin had several surgeries but was still training in the water. She, too, tried out for the Paralympic team in Minneapolis. We were able to talk to some her family/fans but still didn't meet her. She made the team just like David did. She went home to celebrate with another surgery just like David did. Her surgery was again on her brain - Dave's was on his spinal cord. Marin was quite a fighter and battled her deteriorating health all summer long. It seemed to us that it was a touch and go situation and her dream of participating in the Paralympics might not come true. She wasn't able to be with the team the entire time but she did make it to Beijing and she swam all her events.
When a person competes in the Paralympics, s/he has to be classified according to disability. This isn't an ongoing thing - classification seems to be set for a period of time before an athlete can be re-classified. Therefore, Marin was classified at a certain level but by the time she swam in the Paralympics her disability had further deteriorated. She basically swam all her races with one arm and bit of a kick with one leg. And she did that up against less disabled athletes. On one of her races, the entire crowd in the Cube stood and cheered her on. Another moment for tears to stream down faces.
I am sad to report that Marin passed away on January 2. Her family will be setting up a memorial scholarship to remember her courageous life. You can check out the details at their website: http://www.caringbridge.org/ga/marin/. While we didn't get to meet her personally, we do admire what she accomplished in her young life.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A few months later
Dave has been busy touring the country giving his presentations and clinics. I haven't heard the latest so I'm not sure how it has changed since he became a paralympian. However, we still get unsolicited comments from many hearers and it sounds like he is still making an impact with his message. I can't remember a time in my life that I didn't want to be a mother. I am blessed to be a mother to a couple of terrific people. David has figured out how to make lemondade out of lemons. He knows he has been tested and continues to find strength in his family, his friends and his faith. Karyn, my daughter, continues to amaze me with how well she raises her young sons. Some of it imitates me which honors me, but some of it is so new and innovative that I wished I had thought of that!
So well done, kiddoes. Keep up being the terrific adults you have become. I am proud of you both!
So well done, kiddoes. Keep up being the terrific adults you have become. I am proud of you both!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
2 New Posts
I've add a link for the pictures I took while I was in Beijing. I also grabbed a few photos from Zack and Jerrica (their's were better). So thank you, Zack and Jerrica for being such great photographers. Also, I did add some of my thoughts (the blog just below this one) about our time in Beijing. Enjoy and thanks for reading my blog - it was fun reading your responses.
Thoughts on the Paralympics
My brain isn’t as mushy now and I’ve thought about the Paralympics since I’ve been home. I am so impressed with the athletes I got to see. Of course, I am biased towards my own son, David, and so proud of him for deciding to get back into the “swim” of things after his accident. If it wasn’t for him, we would have probably never ventured a trip to China. I saw many of the other athletes because China TV had events on everyday, all day. I saw disabilities of many classifications and marveled at their competitive spirit.
I saw fans come together and cheer the athletes. It didn’t take long to overlook whatever disability the athlete had to overcome and just see the athlete’s ability. The Paralympic theme of Trancendence, Equality, and Integration became internalized. The trancendance was for me – to see the athlete and not the disability. The equality is for the athlete and the family – venues to compete in that are equal to what the able body athletes get to compete in. After talking to family members, I was told that Beijing took this theme of equality to a new level. And yet more could be done – live coverage or even sports updates within different media for these athletes were not available everywhere. Accessibility to get around was much improved in China but more could still be done as in other countries including the USA.
These disabled athletes are courageous as they integrate into society whether at school, with other able bodied athletes they train with, or in the work place. Their families have supported them and probably fought many battles with and for them to be included in society in as many ways as possible. The Paralympic Venue brought all these elements together to share the notion that a disability doesn’t have to be a handicap.
For me, I saw the hand of God whether it was keeping us safe in a huge, unfamiliar foreign city governed by a Communist regime, or helping us find a lost cell phone within a few hours of losing it. Mostly, I saw how God works in human beings to give hope to difficult situations. These families and fans came together because life is hard. Some athletes were born with their disabilities, others acquired them through disease or accidents, yet because human beings are instilled with the characteristics of hope, love, charity and faith, we got to see them excel and live a full life. With more knowledge and awareness of the possibilities available more disabled people can get into the “swim” of things, too.
I saw fans come together and cheer the athletes. It didn’t take long to overlook whatever disability the athlete had to overcome and just see the athlete’s ability. The Paralympic theme of Trancendence, Equality, and Integration became internalized. The trancendance was for me – to see the athlete and not the disability. The equality is for the athlete and the family – venues to compete in that are equal to what the able body athletes get to compete in. After talking to family members, I was told that Beijing took this theme of equality to a new level. And yet more could be done – live coverage or even sports updates within different media for these athletes were not available everywhere. Accessibility to get around was much improved in China but more could still be done as in other countries including the USA.
These disabled athletes are courageous as they integrate into society whether at school, with other able bodied athletes they train with, or in the work place. Their families have supported them and probably fought many battles with and for them to be included in society in as many ways as possible. The Paralympic Venue brought all these elements together to share the notion that a disability doesn’t have to be a handicap.
For me, I saw the hand of God whether it was keeping us safe in a huge, unfamiliar foreign city governed by a Communist regime, or helping us find a lost cell phone within a few hours of losing it. Mostly, I saw how God works in human beings to give hope to difficult situations. These families and fans came together because life is hard. Some athletes were born with their disabilities, others acquired them through disease or accidents, yet because human beings are instilled with the characteristics of hope, love, charity and faith, we got to see them excel and live a full life. With more knowledge and awareness of the possibilities available more disabled people can get into the “swim” of things, too.
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