St. Charles East, Kaneland learning to help those in need
Two area volleyball programs come into the new season with more on their mind than just what is happening on the court.
St. Charles East is preparing for the first annual memorial game for Ashley Marie Smith, a member of the 2001 state championship Saints team who passed away this summer. Smith's mother Barb taught at Lake Park for many years before retiring last year. There will be a memorial game in Smith's honor each year when the schools play, which takes place this year on Thursday night in Roselle.
"Ashley Smith was a special young lady, and it was tragic, but we feel fortunate to raise money for something so dear to her," said Saints coach Jennie Kull, who was Smith's coach in 2001.
Kull knew the Smith family well as Ashley was a member of Kull's husband Jim's marching band at the high school.
"She will be greatly missed," Kull said. "We hope to honor her memory by this game."
Andrew Fillipp is the director of the Ashley Marie Smith Memorial fund, along with Smith's parents Gary and Barbara. The ceremony will take place before the varsity warmups.
There will be a raffle for $1 per ticket; the grand prize is an iPod Nano, the other prizes include various gift certificates to local stores in the Roselle and St. Charles area. Raffle tickets will be available at the Lake Park and St. Charles East athletic departments during school hours Monday-Wednesday. Donations are also being taken at the door.
Each team has warmup T-shirts that have the school's name on the front with SMITH No. 10 on the back. Fillipp created a plaque that will be awarded to the winning team to display in their trophy case.
Meanwhile at Kaneland, coach Todd Weimer has been busy helping organize fundraisers for Mackenzie Curran, a member of his team who on March 17, 2010, did not wake up suffering from AVM (aerterio venous malformation) cerebral hemorrhage.
While the AVM is a genetic defect Curran was born with, there were no headaches or forewarnings which left it undetected. The neurosurgeon did not think Curran would survive.
Weimer said that surgery went very well. After a few days of 24-hour nursing care and constant monitoring of the building pressure and swelling on her brain Curran started to wake up. After seven days in intensive care 'Mac' (as her Kaneland family calls her) was released to a regular room and the doctors then believed she would experience a "full dramatic recovery," according to Weimer.
Curran - known as a positive, energetic and compassionate 17-year-old who was active with her Wednesday night Bible study through Christ Community Church - was very involved with concert choir and sports. She has competed in track and field and volleyball since middle school.
"She has such a positive impact on all those who surround her," Weimer said. "Mackenzie carries with her a remarkable spirit and pure joy for life."
Curran was at Delnor Community Hospital for two weeks, and then Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital for five weeks. She was discharged on May 5, and since then has been going to speech, occupational and physical therapy. As with a stroke, Curran lost control of the right side of her body. Through therapy she is slowly gaining the use of the right side.
"(Her) speech, right arm and right hand will be the last things for her to regain; but her determination, strength and desire to be strong continues to help her overcome any obstacles," Weimer said. "However, Mac does need assistance with several more months of therapy sessions and medications to continue the success that she has experienced and ensure the success of her bright future. With Mac's hard work and the love, support and prayers of those she's touched, we are hopeful of that attainable goal of full dramatic recovery."
To raise money to help the Curran family, Weimer has Mackenzie bracelets and key chains available. "They are going fast," reports Weimer. Other ideas include a "MAC Attack night" similar to Volley for the Cure and selling cookie dough to raise money for her therapy sessions.
Curran is on the road to recovery. At Kaneland's "Knights under the Lights" to open the fall sports season, Curran hit the first ball during warmups with her left hand and received a huge roar from the crowd when her name was announced.
"She's doing great," Weimer said. "She's working her tail off in practices and in therapy. The team is working with her on her vocabulary and volleyball skills. She's a hard worker and an inspiration to the girls, the volleyball program, and Kaneland High School."
Smith was 26 when she passed away unexpectedly June 16, in Townsville, Australia. In addition to her volleyball and band experiences in high school, she also participated in the high school marine biology program at the Shedd Aquarium which led her to the University of North Carolina in Wilmington where she also played volleyball for the Seahawks.
In 2006, Smith graduated from UNCW with a degree in marine biology. She received a Master of Science degree from the University of Hawaii in Manoa majoring in micro biology in 2008. She continued at UH pursuing her PHD in marine micro biology.
Smith's research at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology identified the bacteria that was killing the coral in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii and she was hoping to find a solution to this devastating problem. Her journey took her to the Australian Institute of Marine Science where she was to spend the summer continuing her research that could not be done in Hawaii. Her research will be continued at HIMB.
Contributions may be made to the Ashley Marie Smith Memorial Fund, c/o Harris Bank, 3890 East Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174, proceeds to benefit her research.
"The thing I remember about her was her great smile," Kull said. "She always had a smile on her face. The other thing my husband and I talked about was she was so responsible. She had a great work ethic, always tried to do the best she could no matter what she did."
jlemon@dailyherald.com