Those were the words this morning from my mom as she watched me swim in the pool. The pool which was so cold I might add. I was determined to do some laps this morning despite the near frigid temperature. I still swam for roughly a half hour. My mom, the sport she is, got in the frigid water with me so we could walk the pool. This particular pool gets shallow towards the middle and deeper towards the end. The pool is like a long row that borders onto every room on the first floor. It is tremendous. That’s probably why it’s not heated it would cost a small fortune. As we walked and more of my body was out of the water, the harder it became until of course I couldn’t walk well and fell into the water. Once I was back into deeper water I could walk again but I could swim anywhere. I joke and say if we flooded the world in 4ft of H2O, I’d be great. I can swim straight and kick my feet. It really is amazing considering the issues I have out of the pool.

It took time though to realize that I even could swim still. My first lap in the pool I drank some pool water. I learned to swim at a young age but since getting multiple sclerosis I never really tried to swim. As my legs got worse I never thought it was possible. My MS fitness coach made me try in her lessons at my pool. Those short width laps eventually became the pools length and the 2 or 3 laps became 25-30. It took time but now I can swim anywhere. I only limit my laps because I know my body will fatigue after I’m done. That can cause problems when I needed to get out of the pool and certainly when I need to change and shower.

I can’t walk but I can swim. It is a very true statement. MS is a difficult disease. I spend most days fighting through. My life is about determination like today swimming in the cold pool. I was determined to swim laps so I did. The cold water was probably helpful to my MS, truthfully. I feel strong when I swim. I feel even stronger when I accomplish my goal despite my MS and any other obstacle. Today I’m writing this feeling good.