As if you needed further proof that the human spirit can accomplish incredible things, here’s a great story from “across the pond.”
In 2012, 15-year-old British student Jessica Gillatt was well on her way to becoming a swimming sensation when she logged a record time for the 50 meter breaststroke in the UK for her age bracket. That was enough to land a scholarship offer to train at Plymouth Leander, a competitive swimming club with a 50 year pedigree that helps train elite swimmers.
As Jessica’s symptoms worsened over the following year, her doctors decided to remove her thymus gland—a lymphatic organ that produces T cells and is active in developing children’s immune system. Because of the gland’s location near the heart, doctors had to perform a complicated “key-hole” surgery that required a long recovery.
At this point, Jessica’s swimming days must have seemed a distant memory. But she was determined to return to the pool. It took some time to build her strength back up—swimming one length of the pool was a challenge, never mind setting any records. In time though, she was able to rejoin her local swimming team, the appropriately named Sharks, and by 2015 was named “Most Improved Senior Girl.” And earlier this year she was able to return to completion and qualify for regional competitions, swimming in the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter, 100 meter, and 200 meter breaststrokes.
Win or lose, Jessica is a great example of what people can achieve with myasthenia gravis with the right treatment, support, and determination. We can’t wait to see Jessica swimming into the history books!
