She teaches 'stress-less' swimming while battling muscle disorder

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She teaches 'stress-less' swimming while battling muscle disorder

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When swimming coach Deni Gillespie was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth

disease in 1992, she also found out that she'd had it her whole life.

Named for the French and British scientists who discovered it, the progressive

nerve and muscle disorder is caused by a genetic defect in the peripheral

nerves.

The Jensen Beach resident, now 56, also found out that she'd passed it on to her

son Casey, now 21 and a junior at the University of Central Florida. He hasn't

yet experienced the same amount of pain and muscle weakness and atrophy as his

mother. But the two share a sympathetic bond.

" He actually feels worse for me, " Gillespie said. " He said, 'I feel really bad

that you didn't know what was wrong when you were younger. You must've been

wondering why you couldn't do certain things.' "

The disease has impacted more than just Gillespie's swimming ability.

The protective pads at the bottom of her feet are worn down, causing her to use

a motorized wheelchair and wear special shoes. The move to South Florida from

New Jersey 12 years ago has helped, because cold made her symptoms worse.

Gillespie says that her condition worsening has caused her to lose jobs, and be

passed over for others, despite a stellar coaching record she started at age 20.

" That's how I put myself through school at Rutgers, " the New Jersey native said.

She has been both a college assistant coach and a high school head coach. She

also started the Swim Strong Aquatic Club with Casey four years ago.

Before the Port St. Lucie Pool closed during non-summer months because of

budgetary concerns this year, Gillespie offered lessons to Treasure Coast

children who normally might not consider swimming — including minorities and

those who were overweight, or suffering from autism or attention-deficit

disorder.

Another specialty is her " stress-less swimming " lessons through her Jensen Beach

Swim Gym.

Fort Pierce resident Jeff Brodzinski, 39, started training with Gillespie before

his first triathlon. Brodzinski, who operates Finishing Touch carpentry

business, was pleasantly surprised at the immediate results.

" My first triathlon was the Loggerhead in August, " he said, " and I did another

one in Melbourne in October. I'd grown up around water and swam all my life, but

Deni showed me I wasn't swimming properly.

" She emphasized breathing techniques, and conserving energy by gliding, and I

finished seventh in my beginner class at the Loggerhead Triathlon in Jupiter. In

Melbourne, I finished eighth in the age 34-39 group. "

Gillespie says that some of those training methods were frowned upon as she led

a successful Jensen Beach High School program from 2004-2007.

" Jim McCombs, who's coached County since 1995, didn't think much of my

breathing techniques, " Gillespie said. " He was my nemesis. "

" I don't consider her a nemesis, " McCombs responded. " I consider her a

colleague. "

Gillespie would instruct more students if her CMT didn't also impact her

driving, and she'd give more lessons at her pool if she could afford to repair

its heater. This and other home improvement needs have her offering " skill

swaps, " in exchange for swimming lessons, at her home on Dec. 26 (9 a.m.-9

p.m.), Dec. 27 (noon-4 p.m.), and Jan. 2 (noon-4 p.m.). For further information,

visit jensenbeachswimgym.com.