Mari's story is awesome and inspirational. In April 1999, while at work as a Recreation Therapist for patients with various dementias, Mari suffered a major debilitating brain injury. Her life changed dramatically. She was hospitalized for three weeks and her diagnosis was grim with one doctor saying that she may only have at most 3 years to live. She suffered severe short term memory loss, impaired language skills; she experienced considerable neuromuscular pain, loss of balance, and extreme sensitivity to sound. She was unable to function independently. To Mari, the sound of a house fly was like a chain saw inches away. With much support from her partner Kathy, her many friends and the Vancouver medical community, Mari slowly but surely regained aspects of her life.
In her previous life, Mari and Kathy enjoyed cross-country skiing. Three years ago Mari reluctantly attended a cross-country workshop for people with disabilities. She did not believe that she could balance on skis. However with two poles and a lot of persuasion she gave it a try. As coincidence would have it, a coach involved with the Canadian Para-Nordic Development Cross-Country Ski Team saw Mari's potential and asked if she would be interested in training seriously in order to make the team. Mari saw 2010 and nothing was going to stop her once the seed was planted. Pouring her heart and soul into training, Mari had a new goal. Kathy did too. She immediately began taking courses to become an official Coach so that she could help Mari achieve her dream.
She entered her first race last year and it was very challenging to endure the physical and mental aspects of the sport with her disabilities. Her words that kept her going through the race were "I am a finisher." Her first 5K race took 45 minutes with the standard being 18 - 22 minutes. At the International Paralympic World Cup held in BC in March 2007, she was classified by a team of medical specialist from Europe who said that with her disability they could not believe she could ski as well as she does. We know 'heart and soul' cannot be measured! She went on to earn 40 World Cup points for Canada in her first International competition finishing in 6th place in the World. This finish earned her a spot on the National Development Team. A week later she competed at Nationals in Quebec earning 2 bronze medals and her best personal time ever. On April 25, 2007 she got a phone call from the Head Coach of Canada with the invitation to be on the 2010 Team. This is the anniversary date of her brain injury 8 years ago. Mari and Kathy will be traveling to New Zealand in August and Finland in November to train with the Canadian Team. Miracles do happen and we know one!
various dementias, Mari suffered a major debilitating brain injury. Her life changed dramatically. She was hospitalized for three weeks and her diagnosis was grim with one doctor saying that she may only have at most 3 years to live. She suffered severe short term memory loss, impaired language skills; she experienced considerable neuromuscular pain, loss of balance, and extreme sensitivity to sound. She was unable to function independently. To Mari, the sound of a house fly was like a chain saw inches away. With much support from her partner Kathy, her many friends and the Vancouver medical community, Mari slowly but surely regained aspects of her life.
In her previous life, Mari and Kathy enjoyed cross-country skiing. Three years ago Mari reluctantly attended a cross-country workshop for people with disabilities. She did not believe that she could balance on skis. However with two poles and a lot of persuasion she gave it a try. As coincidence would have it, a coach involved with the Canadian Para-Nordic Development Cross-Coun
try Ski Team saw Mari's potential and asked if she would be interested in training seriously in order to make the team. Mari saw 2010 and nothing was going to stop her once the seed was planted. Pouring her heart and soul into training, Mari had a new goal. Kathy did too. She immediately began taking courses to become an official Coach so that she could help Mari achieve her dream.
with the standard being 18 - 22 minutes. At the International Paralympic World Cup held in BC in March 2007, she was classified by a team of medical specialist from Europe who said that with her disability they could not believe she could ski as well as she does. We know 'heart and soul' cannot be measured! She went on to earn 40 World Cup points for Canada in her first International competition finishing in 6th place in the World. This finish earned her a spot on the National Development Team. A week later she competed at Nationals in Quebec earning 2 bronze medals and her best personal time ever. On April 25, 2007 she got a phone call from the Head Coach of Canada with the invitation to be on the 2010 Team. This is the anniversary date of her brain injury 8 years ago. Mari and Kathy will be traveling to New Zealand in August and Finland in November to train with the Canadian Team.