Steve Virgen
Water is a symbol for rebirth, and for cleansing.
This has been true in Amy Catlin's life.
She began swimming when she was 8 and showed great promise at age
12, but something happened to her that altered her life. Before, her
challenges were all about beating a time on a stopwatch. But suddenly
she took on tests of will and overcoming a life-threatening illness:
leukemia.
Catlin, a Corona del Mar High junior, seemingly used the water as
a source of strength and refuge from her battles with leukemia and
other ailments. During the past four years, Catlin has continued to
swim despite dealing with chemotherapy, as well as osteoporosis,
tendinitis in her shoulders and a broken arm. Osteoporosis is a
disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break.
"I was just really tired," Catlin said of her bouts with
chemotherapy. "I think it was more emotionally draining than it was
physically because at that point in my life, 13 and 14 years old,
kids are thinking about going out and having fun. I kind of missed
out on that. That was really emotionally draining. Swimming really
helped that. I still could see people and I could participate to a
certain degree."
Catlin is now in her fourth year of remission. In December, she
will be considered cured in regard to the leukemia. This spring she
is enjoying herself while making contributions for the highly
regarded swim team at Corona del Mar. She swims the backstroke, but
Sea King Coach Doug Volding has been trying in her other events to
see if she can add more depth to the squad.
Just to be in the water and to be as healthy as she has been since
she was 12 is rather remarkable.
Quitting swimming would have been so easy. But Catlin didn't want
any of that, despite all the hardships.
In the summer of 1999, she dreamed of becoming a swimmer in
college. But in November, only nightmares clouded her visions. She
had been experiencing shoulder problems for over a month and went to
her doctor for a routine physical.
Results from her blood test showed she had leukemia. Chemotherapy
-- radiation treatments that could help beat leukemia -- whittled
Catlin's strength. But she continued to swim. Four years ago, after
her first round of chemotherapy, Catlin went back into the pool.
"It felt like I was swimming in gel," she said.
Catlin continued to swim because she loved the sport and also she
still kept hope that she could fulfill the potential she had built
when she was 12. She also maintained her dream of swimming in
college.
