Team Meghan
power down a banana with peanut butter and yogurt at 5:00 in the morning as we made the hour-long drive to practice – a time when I could barely keep my eyes open, let alone eat!
In fact, if you ask her,
Meg will tell you that Synchro has given her everything she needs to fight this disease
Just little bits of self-discipline all
AS A PROUD MEMBER OF HER COLLEGIATE SYNCHRO TEAM, MEGHAN AND HER DUET PARTNER, MICHELLE THERIAULT, FINISHED FIRST AT THE 2010 COLLEGIATE NATIONALS.
THIS PHOTO OF MEGHAN WAS SELECTED TO BE ON THE COVER OF THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MAGAZINE AT OSU.
chemotherapy and a complicated “limb- salvage” surgery to remove the tumor without amputation (the only form of treatment until fairly recently) Meghan is entering the final few months of her cancer treatment. Although this has been the most difficult period in all our lives, we have been truly blessed with an incredible outpouring of love and support – especially from Meg’s Synchro community all across the US – which has given us much needed additional strength for the journey. And it’s been a tough one. Termed one of the ‘Orphan Cancers”
due to its rarity, Osteo (along with other Sarcomas) has not received the funding necessary to support research and development of new and improved drugs and treatment options. Therefore, Meghan has to be hospitalized for every chemo infusion as the drugs and dosages are so toxic (and archaic) that she requires 24-hour monitoring and “rescue” medication to keep her organs from shutting down. She usually spends two weeks in and two weeks out – and when she (and her blood counts) are
SURROUNDED BY HER FELLOW NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS WHO JOINED MEGHAN AT THE 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS.
Photo Credit: John Migliore
recovered enough to resume, back into the hospital she goes. But through it all, she has handled
the treatment, surgery, loss of “life as she knew it” along with the uncertainty of her prognosis, with tremendous courage, grace, self-discipline, and determination – traits that served her well throughout her entire Synchro career. And like any athlete who makes it to the elite level, Meg possesses an incredible work ethic. However, perhaps more importantly, she possesses an even more incredible attitude. In fact, if you ask her, Meg will tell you
that Synchro has given her everything she needs to fight this disease, including a willingness to take direction – whether she feels like it or not. In the nine months she’s been in treatment, Meg has not lost a pound – an amazing feat. Of course, I’m tempted to attribute this to my fantastic cooking and the fact that I bring all her food to the hospital. But the main reason is her ability to nourish her body and eat even when she doesn’t have an appetite – something she learned to do at age 11, when she’d
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USASYNCHRO.ORG JULY 2011
along the way. Because of Synchro, Meghan has learned to process and respond – rather than simply “react.” And this more than anything else, has made the difference… along with everyone who has visited, written, posted on her Caringbridge, bought a Team Meghan suit, tee shirt, or cap… or simply prayed for her full recovery. “Thank you” does not even come close to expressing our gratitude. It is because of your generosity that I’ve been able to stay here in Columbus with Meghan for the entire course of treatment. And I can honestly say I’ve never been
so proud of my Meg – during the 5-6 years that she was rarely around due to swimming, I would sometimes lament the fact that we never saw her, hadn’t even spent a birthday with her since age 14. And although I would give anything for Meghan not to have been diagnosed with cancer, it is because of this ordeal that I’ve finally gotten to spend time with my daughter and see for myself just how lovely a young woman she’s grown up to be. We’ve laughed… and cried… together. I’ve held her hand and she’s held mine – and that, in itself has been a wonderful gift. Today, Meghan is letting go of the life
she had planned and looking forward… to the life that is waiting for her. Synchro has given her so much…life-long friend- ships along with a true understanding of self – and a confidence that will serve her well as she moves forward in her journey. And somehow, a “knowing” that her life will continue to be amazing – just in a different sort of way. And I’m OK with that. n
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