Berry Proves Life Is 'About What You Do With Your Second Choice'

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Berry Proves Life Is 'About What You Do With & #8200;Your Second Choice'

http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/15/sports/doc4a0d5dbbce871618692520.t\

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By BRENDAN F. QUINN, The Bulletin Friday, May 15, 2009

Looking at Meagan Berry, it's puzzling to believe that she's been trapped in the

depths of disease since the second grade.

The Episcopal Academy senior stands around 5-foot-9. She's strong, with a

sturdy, athletic build. In the radiance of the setting sun coming down on the

Schuylkill River, though, her complexion is that of a fair porcelain doll.

And thus is the juxtaposition that is Meagan Berry. A standout athlete immersed

in sports her entire life, the 18-year-old's body is literally breaking down.

Because of this, so many around her, including all those countless doctors, have

tried to handle her like a fragile doll.

To all those people, Berry has continually said, " Move over, while I'll prove

you wrong. "

But as she confounds all who doubt her, Berry still has an irrepressible truth

festering deep within her conscience: In 12 years, give or take, she will be in

a wheelchair.

" That's just the way it is, " she says matter of factly.

This is probably a lot to ingest, so let's take a step back.

In second grade, Berry suffered chronic sprained ankles and was ultimately

diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. CMT is a hereditary disorder that

affects the nerves in your arms and legs, causing muscle weakness and decreased

muscle bulk, as well as decreased sensation. According to the National

Institutes of Health, the disease affects about one person in 2,500.

Berry knew, even at that age, that CMT could be overcome. She was specifically

diagnosed with CMTX, one of the lesser types of the diagnosis and the same one

that her father has and lives with daily.

In the grand scheme of things, it was no big deal. Especially considering that

Berry's older sister, Caitlin, was born severely mentally and physically

disabled. She's needed constant care her entire life.

Over the five years following the diagnosis, Meagan fell in love with the water.

She became a promising swimmer and grew into an older sister for her older

sister. That was when seventh grade rolled around. Betty Berry, Meagan's mom,

remembers that her daughter was perpetually sick and that she and her

then-husband, Jack, had her tested for everything from mono to whooping cough

and the flu to thyroid problems.

Once everything else was ruled out, Betty came to an agonizing realization —

diabetes — and she was spot-on. Betty told Meagan what she believed the

problem to be and brought her to the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania. Upon

seeing the doctors at CHOP, the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes was handed down. A

four-day, three-night stay ensued.

" I was really upset in the hospital that week, " Meagan remembers. " I asked the

doctor, `Am I going to be able to continue swimming?' and he looked at me and

said, `You're not going to conform to diabetes. Diabetes is going to conform to

you.' He was right. "

As if all that wasn't enough for an adolescent to take, more bad news was

looming. Later that year, during a routine check-up at the Muscular Dystrophy

Clinic at CHOP (where her CMT was treated), the family informed doctors of

Meagan's diabetes. They didn't think much of it, only to learn that the

combination of CMT and Type 1 Diabetes would accelerate her nerve and muscle

deterioration. That was when the doctors told Meagan that she would be

relegated to a wheelchair by the age of 30.

As devastation settled deep inside Meagan, her mother spoke words that have

stayed with her ever since — " Life is not about getting your first choice, it's

about what you do with your second choice. "

" It doesn't consume my life, " Meagan now says. " That's the way I was raised.

My family doesn't have it the easiest, but we're not the worst off. We can deal

with everything. "

And through her four years at Episcopal, Meagan Berry has seemingly done

everything. Despite doctors saying that she'd likely be unable to continue in

athletics, she's maintained a three-sport high school career. Since running is

" torture " on her feet, her sports bring her to the water — crew, swimming, and

water polo. In crew, she found her niche.

Having joined the team at EA as a sophomore, Meagan quickly learned that her

athletic build is ideal for rowing. As a junior, coach Molly Konopka elevated

Berry into the senior quad — the top girls' boat in the program, where she has

remained for the last two years. Discussing her three seasons coaching Meagan,

Konopka continually uses the word " remarkable. "

" There's never been a sense of `I can't do this' because of her limitations, "

Konopka says. " She's never used anything as an excuse. It's always been, `How

do I get better.' She's quite remarkable. "

When talking to Meagan about what life has dealt her, it becomes quite evident

why she's been so successful. Her disposition is as refreshing as the cool

breeze rolling off the Schuylkill.

" I didn't ask for any of this, but I'm going to be sitting down in 12 years —

I'm not going to be dead, " she says, with a shrug accompanying her grin. " I'll

be able to continue my life exactly the way it is … just a little bit slower.

It's not the worst thing that could happen, so I don't let it get me down. If I

did, I wouldn't be able to function. "

At the same time, there are moments, Meagan admits, when she wants to curl up

into a ball and forget her reality. It's precisely at those times when she

finds solace on the river. While the other 5,000-plus rowers coming to

Philadelphia for this weekend's Stotesbury Regatta likely got into the sport to

simply win races, Meagan's driving force was to break through the limitations

put on her by outsiders.

" I enjoy every day out here, " she says, directing her gaze out to the river.

" It's hard and we get sweaty and we're exhausted when we finish, but I'm lucky.

My days of being able to do this are numbered, so I don't take it for granted. "

You know what else she won't take for granted? The next four years. See, that

little 12-year-old girl who was told that sports weren't for her … she ended up

being recruited to row for Cornell.

But that's too far in the future. Throughout all the painful experiences in

Meagan's life, she's learned to remain in the here and now. This weekend, she

will attempt to power Episcopal to its first ever victory in the girls' senior

quad. The boat is undefeated this year and considered a favorite to win gold.

So around 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, be sure to look for EA on the awards dock.

After all, why would anyone doubt Meagan Berry?