A Matter of Heart

by Amy Fellner Dominy

[Sam@WLABB]

Abby was at the top of her game. She was setting new records in the pool, and mentally and physically prepared for the Olympic trails. Or, so she thought. After a physical exam revealed that Abby had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Abby's dreams moved further and further out of reach.

I love stories featuring elite athletes. Their drive and dedication is always so inspiring, but this story was different, because it dealt with an athlete having to come to terms with losing their dream. Abby had worked so hard inside and outside of the pool, reaching for an Olympic dream she shared with her father. My heart ached for her, when she was handed her HCM diagnosis. This was HUGE loss for her, and she began to spin out of control. She appeared to be going through the five stages of grief, and I thought her journey was quit believable, even if some of her behaviors were questionable.

Abby didn't only lose her dream, she lost herself. Swimming was so intertwined with who she was, and was a central part of her identity. Without swimming, Abby had no idea who she was supposed to be. For a decade, everything she did was to make herself a better swimmer. It was heartbreaking seeing someone so young so adrift.

I feel like I connected with this story on a different level too. When I was teaching, we lost a student during track practice to HCM. I had never taught the student, but his death was devastating to our community. It did prompt the district to offer EKGs, free of charge, as a part of the athletic physical, in order to help identify those with HCM.

This was a difficult journey for Abby, but she did eventually come to terms with her heart condition and her future without swimming. I would have liked a little bit more at the end, but she was definitely heading in the right direction.

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