INSYNCH ODDS
DEFYING THE
SKATING COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND INJURED SKATER
by LESLIE GRAHAM Troughout the summer, rinks are often filled with
skaters who are honing their skills and having fun while escaping the uncomfortable heat. Tat was the case at the Line Creek Community Ice Center in Kansas City, Mo., on July 3, 2013. Everyone was having a great time when something
went terribly wrong for one of the area’s teenage skaters. Madeline Mudd, then 16 years old, was skating when she collapsed. Te life of this member of the Kansas City Illusion intermediate synchronized skating team would be changed forever.
As she was transported by ambulance, it was uncer-
tain what had caused her dire condition. A healthy young athlete, Madeline was conscious but unable to successfully communicate. “We knew she was hurting,” Madeline’s mother, Mar-
cy Mudd, said. “She was conscious but not screaming. She just kept trying to say her head hurt.” At the hospital, a CAT scan revealed that Madeline had a brain aneurysm. She was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital, and after no more than 30 minutes, it was determined she needed further specialized attention. She was immediately med-flighted to the University of Kansas Medical Center. “One-third of the patients don’t make it to the hospi-
tal, one-third of the patients don’t make it through surgery, and one-third of the patients recover,” Marcy said. Madeline successfully made it through the five-hour
surgery to repair the aneurysm. “Not only is she a figure skater, she has perseverance,
she’s a fighter, she’s tough,” Marcy said. Te Mudd family knew the road to recovery had only begun, and that it wouldn’t be easy. On July 7, she was put into a medically induced coma.
To help control the swelling, the decision was made to do a craniectomy. Doctors removed both parts of her frontal skull and stored them in her abdomen. Organized by a mom of one of the Kansas City Il-
48 FEBRUARY 2014
“Madeline has been an amazing inspiration. She and her family have such a positive attitude. It has truly reminded everyone what’s important and to cherish every moment. To her teammates, Madeline is just the same girl as before. They jump in to help her just as they help any other teammate.” — COACH AMY FANKHAUSER
The support from Kansas City Illusion and other area synchronized skating teams has been a tremendous help in her recovery from a brain aneurysm.
Madeline Mudd, left, displays her love for skating as a member of Kansas City Illusion.
PHOTOS BY LEAH IVEY
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