Skaters defy odds to thrive on ice By Keith Ryan Cartwright
Some young skaters may be tired of hearing adults say, “Don’t give up.”
However, those three words are anything but a cliché for members of the Pines Figure Skating Club. Upon hearing the stories of Karen Fisboin and Analia De Jesus, the words “don’t give up” become a defi ning moment for many young skaters fortunate enough to skate with them at the Pines Ice Arena, in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Fisboin, 15, developed histiocyto- sis — a rare type of cancer — when she was 5 years old, while De Je- sus, 13, was born with a congenital eye disorder that left her without vision in one eye. Inspiring all who know them, both girls have defi ed the odds and thrived on the ice.
“The fact that we have two girls out there that are living proof of not giving up is a pretty good tool for coaches,” said Jennifer Hough- ton-Morris, director of fi gure skat- ing for both the club and the rink.
Fisboin and her coaches Kristin Alberico and Max Frossine came to the rink in 2011, and De Jesus, who works with Irina Delgado, also
started at the rink almost fi ve years ago.
To have one story of overcoming adversity would be amazing, but to have two of them is almost un- fathomable.
“We’re all just meant to be togeth- er at this point in our lives,” Hough- ton-Morris said.
She added that sometimes life places you somewhere based on what you belive in, but you stay there because you make a con- scious choice to do so.
Their success is an inspiration to others, and Fisboin often speaks with younger skaters and inti- mately shares her story battling cancer, the toll the chemo treat- ments took on her body, and how she used skating to strengthen her weakened body.
Doctors assured her parents that skating would not only help strengthen her physically, but mentally as well.
“Skating was especially hard for me at fi rst since the cancer I had was in my bones,” Fisboin wrote. “Some were very weak and it did
take longer for me to learn some things.”
“No matter what your story is, you shouldn’t give up just because it’s diffi cult,” said Houghton-Morris, who likened Fisboin’s recovery to “a butterfl y coming out of the co- coon.”
Lacking vision in one eye, De Je- sus wasn’t even supposed to be able to skate, let alone work on her intermediate moves-in-the-fi eld test.
She’s completely defi ed the odds. It can only be explained by an in- nate sense of body awareness of situational awareness to everyone else during freestyle sessions. In 2011 and 2012, De Jesus took fi rst place in the South Florida Basic Skills Series.
Houghton-Morris said it’s gratify- ing for everyone who knows her to watch.
She’s pretty impressive,” Hough- ton-Morris said. “Skating has truly helped the girls feel strength in their lives.”
Analia De Jesus
Karen Fisboin has used skating to overcome cancer.
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