Swimming for Your Life

Four-year-old Lucy looked as if she were about to be shipped off to a junior chef competition. Her hair was wrapped in a rubber turban that covered her forehead. Her floral coat was buttoned up to her chin. Her matching top and skirt peeked out from her coat. A pair of swimming goggles framed her expressive eyes. She looked sad, as if she didn’t want to be there. While she appeared to be preparing for Miss Iron Chef America, she was actually walking on a deck surrounding a large indoor pool. She hesitated, venturing slowly toward Sandi, her swimming instructor, and then stopped. She turned and waved at May, her mother. In response, May pulled out her iPhone and took a photo. “Lucy, are you ready to go swimming?”

 

          Lucy did not say anything. Her only response was to look down at her feet.

 

          Sandi called out to the little girl. “Lucy, there’s a rule before you get into the pool. Do you remember what it is?”

 

          She shook her head.

 

          Sandi took Lucy’s hand and walked a dozen yards to the shower area. “You must always shower before entering the pool.” With that, she turned on the warm water and watched as the drops bounced off of Lucy’s uniform.

 

          Sandi continued to provide instructions. “I’ll get in first because I’m the adult. You must always wait until the adult is in the pool. Then you get in.”

 

          Lucy obeyed her instructor.

 

          “You are so good at following instructions,” chirped Sandi, giving her student a big smile.

 

          Lucy descended to the second step and waited for further guidance. Sandi pressed Lucy’s hand into a jug filled with pool water. “I want you to get used to the feel of water on your hands. Now I’m going to wet your jacket. Now your head.” She poured water onto the turban.

 

          “I want you to take one more step. I know you can do it.”

 

          Lucy hesitated. After a long moment, she gingerly stretched her foot until it reached the next step. She looked up expectantly.

 

          “Great job, Lucy!”

 

          “May, this is as far as Lucy got during her first lesson. She’s doing so well.”

 

          May smiled and took another photo. Her daughter looked up and her and smiled.

 

          Sandi passed a styrofoam noodle with multiple foam barbells on each end. “Lucy, I want you to feel comfortable with your body in the water. Wrap your arms around this float and start kicking.”

 

          She lowered the little girl into the water, continuing to touch her hands. “Show me what you can do. Faster, faster!”

 

          Lucy surged through the water, kicking as if her life depended on it. As she neared the middle of the pool, she suddenly stopped. She resumed her pace after confirming that Sandi was standing beside her. They turned around and returned to the stairs. Sandi kept her hand on Lucy’s back.

 

          “You are a natural swimmer, Lucy! I’m so impressed.”

 

           Lucy’s mother remained quiet as she videotaped her daughter in the pool.

 

          “Lucy, I’m going to have you pretend you’re in a big bathtub. I want you to lie down on your back. I will be holding you. I’m going to count down from three. When I get to zero, you’re going to float on your own for three seconds. I want you to count down with me. You can tell this is a really big bathtub. But don’t worry, I’m right beside you.”

 

          Lucy floated, her face pointed toward the sky. Her expression remained neutral. She didn’t appear to be enjoying herself, but neither did she appear to be in distress.

 

          “Come back up to the step. We’re going to blow bubbles into the air. Every two seconds, we’ll let out our breath and blow a bubble. ”

 

           Lucy’s expression changed. Her eyes widened and she smiled.

 

          “Now we’re going to blow them into the water. Every two seconds, we’ll let out our breath.” Sandi instructed Lucy to follow her lead. She held onto the little girl’s arms as if to reassure Lucy that her instructor was right there with her making sure she was safe.

 

          May walked over to the pool as the lesson was ending. She wrapped a towel around her daughter.

 

          She addressed the instructor, her voice quivering. “Lucy and I are so thankful to you. After the accident, I didn’t think that Lucy would ever smile again. “The doctors brought her back to life after she fell into the river and got swept away by the current. Dad died trying to rescue her. He got her out of the water but the effort placed too much strain on his heart. Lucy hasn’t spoken a word since that day, and this is the first time I’ve seen her smile.”

 

          Lucy looked at her mom and took her hand.

 

          “I know my little girl is coming back to me.”