My reason for posting this article was to inform people to just be careful, not to start rumors or arguments.  I have been doing open water swims by myself this season and this really made me think.  I won't do it anymore....because no matter how great of a swimmer you are...it can happen.  I am glad that she is ok too.

nah, just sounds like a group of triathletes that were swimming together...like the Donkey Nation does...

hope she will have a full recovery and go on to rock IMoo!!

Although...I see she was not alone.  Be careful anyway!!

Again - thank goodness she is alright

I typically swim train alone, but have moved my swims into shallow waters less than 25 yds from shore.  I have not swam thru the middle of elkhart lake any time recently - purely of fear in the middle

HERE IS FROM YESTERDAY

Posted 1 day ago

If you have not heard Mary had an incident while training this morning. She was swimming in Lake Monona when she began to have difficulties. Some fisherman from the Terrace observed her struggling and called 911. A boat of fisherman retrieved Mary from the water and brought her to waiting EMTs. When she reached shore she was not breathing and did not have a pulse. The EMTs were able to resuscitate her and brought her to Meriter Hospital.

Initially Mary was placed on a respirator as she was unable to breathe on her own. Through the morning and early afternoon her vitals strengthened and she began to breathe over the respirator, but remained unconscious.

Currently she is sedated and we are waiting for her to get stronger. A Neurologist is keeping an eye on her and will examine her in the morning. Friends and family fill the waiting room at the hospital waiting for news and we will update this site as soon as there is anything new.

HERE IS FROM TODAY

Posted 10 hours ago

Thank you all for your kind words.

The doctors are keeping Mary chemically sedated for the day. They are administering a procedure of cooling her body for 24 hours. They feel this may help reduce the chances of brain injury. At about 10:00 PM tonight they will begin to warm her and take her off the medication tomorrow morning when she will be examined by the neurologist.

A chest x-ray showed spotting on one lung from fluid, but was better that an x-ray taken when she was admitted. The have reduced the level of oxygen as her breathing continues to improve.

Mary's husband Scott has not left her side since she was admitted to the hospital and is receiving all your thoughts and prayers. Her children are staying with grandparents and are fine. For now no news is good news and we will let you know when hear something tomorrow.

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Thanks, Suzy, for the update.

Sending out the positive vibes to her and her family.  Let's hope she pulls through with no ill-affects.

Thanks Suzy -  I really hope this turns into a good ending story with a full recovery.  I was really sad to hear about this and frankly scared since we have heard too many stories about swimming tragedies lately.  My prayers go out to Mary and her family.  I appreciate the updates.

8/18/09- 10:30 AM (Mother Chris' Birthday)

Posted 2 hours ago

The procedure to cool Mary for 24 hours was completed last night and they have warmed her back to normal. She has been taken off the sedation medication which allows us all to see how hard she is fighting.

The Neurologist examined her this morning and reported that Mary responds to pain, that her reflexes are good and that her pupils are reactive. These are all good signs. She is still having minor jerks or seizures and her eyes are fixed upward with eyelids open. These are not the greatest signs but she is holding Scott's hand and I think she was annoyed with me telling stories at her bedside.

For now we wait and see what happens. My father said that the problem is we are expecting things to occur on our schedule. You don't need to know Mary at all to know that things will occur on her schedule. To that end we will keep updating this site as she progresses. Thank you again for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement. We are printing these pages out daily to read to Mary so that she will know how many people are pulling for her. So if you want to say something to her, use your voice here.

Today the Mary we know is gone. Her body remains and she and her
family are in the process of giving life to as many others as they
can by donating her organs. Mary lived her life to help others
whether that was her family, her friends, her patients or her
children and now her strenth will be passed on to the lives of
other through the gift of life.

 Mary we will miss you more than you can ever know.