The poorest person in the world is not the one without a cent in his pocket but the person who does not have a dream.
- Anonymous
S
he staggered off the practice ice supported by some of her skating-team friends. I hurried over to give Heidi her jacket and to brace her until we could find a seat. At fifteen, she had been living with cancer for a year. We’d learned the news just after returning from Chicago, where she’d won her first gold medal in an international competition.
Then came the tests and the surgery. Through it all, what mattered to her most was that she retain her ability to skate. Fortunately, her doctor agreed to let her skate as much as she was able.
Heidi’s friend Greg helped me take off her skates. All of the children were initially frightened by Heidi’s plight, but gradually pitched in to help keep her safe.
“Is she all right?” Greg asked.
“Yes, she just needs a nice nap before we can get her to the car,” I explained.
Happy children swirled around me as Heidi slept away. They all tried to be quiet, but their exuberance for the upcoming Keystone State Games was evident. How I wished those days would return for Heidi.
Heidi had been working hard on her programs and was determined to compete, but now the deadline had passed. I woke her up and we began our journey to the car. “Mom, Coach Barb says I am skating my program well. I want to go to the State Games.”
Pain shot through my heart. When I told her the registration deadline had passed, she said her coach could probably still get her in. “Mom,” she pleaded, “I don’t expect a medal. I just want to go there and be normal for a couple of days. Is that so bad?” A sob escaped her.
“Let’s ask the doctor,” I said, uncertain.
The next day at her checkup she filled the doctor in on all the details of the State Games.
“I’ll tell you what,” he responded. “It’s okay with me if it is okay with your mom, but you’ll have to get permission to miss your radiation treatments.”
I added something else to the list: “You have to eat right, sleep right and take good care of yourself.”
“I will, I promise!” she responded.
After getting permission from the oncologist and sending in a last-minute registration form, Heidi was set to go to the State Games. Now it was the big night and Heidi was about to alight on the ice for her freestyle routine. I prayed.
The speakers announced her name and I steadied my hand on the camera as she flowed across the ice gracefully like her old self. Proudly, she took up her stance. Steel Magnolias’ theme song filled the arena and she took off for a full performance.
She picked her toe into the ice and lifted up into a jump. She was so high that a momentary look of fear crossed her face. I cringed, whispering, “Please God, don’t let her break anything on the landing.”
She landed perfectly leg out behind her just like the pros. Her face bore a huge smile as if to say “I did it!” She tore into her next move as the audience went wild. “Go Heidi!” echoed around the arena. She leaned into her ultimate move, the eagle posture, perfectly done.
The stands erupted with joyful noise. None of us could believe it. Another huge jump! She was garnering points for the team. She glided into a lovely spiral, heavy boot held high like a flag of victory. Her cheeks were pink with effort and she was beaming with pride. Heidi had outskated her best!
She exited victoriously into her coach’s arms. Barb grabbed her in a huge hug, crying as they savored this incredible moment. Then her joy turned to shock. Heidi lay lifeless in her arms.
The arena quieted. I ran.
I caught them as Heidi’s weight began to overpower Barb. I backed to the bleachers and rested over against them. Arms reached to help. I laid her carefully down and felt her neck for a pulse. She had one.
Everyone waited in shock as I checked her over.
The quiet was suddenly shattered by a snore! Bedlam erupted. Applause ripped through the rafters of the frigid arena. Parents of her rivals shared their blankets as Heidi took a well-deserved nap. She was still sound asleep when her teammates ran over to congratulate her. She had earned the gold medal in the freestyle pision!
- Nancy E. Myer