By Kelsi Daniels
When it comes to senior softball player, Mary Thomson, determination is the key to continue doing what you love. It helps get you through obstacles in the way of reaching your goals. For many Bellarmine athletes, they go through hard times and when they get on the field, court, or track those thoughts and feelings disappear. Mary has learned to adjust to the obstacles in her life.
You see, four years ago, Mary was diagnosed with epilepsy. She had her first seizure during a softball game in her senior year of high school. Since then, it has been a battle dealing with it, but she doesn’t let it get her down.
Since playing t-ball at four years old, Mary has always loved the game of softball. Nothing has ever stopped her from playing. However, when she was diagnosed things started to change for the catcher.
On the field. In her room. Out in public. Seizures can occur anywhere which is why it’s difficult for Mary to play as much as she wants.
When she came to play for Bellarmine, her playing time was cut short, drastically. Throughout her career, there has been a multitude of hospital trips. For anyone, that alone could tear away at their pride, but for Mary it only makes her stronger.
“Focus on your blooming,” says Mary.
One thing she lives by is learning to put your focus on self-growth and embracing who you are in order to live a better life. This mantra has not only affected Mary’s life, but her family and friends, as well.
“It’s always nice to have Mary around during games,” says Mary’s teammate, Natalie Magnus. “When I’m on the field, I can always hear her cheering on the team, and it just makes me happy. She gets everyone hyped up.”
Even though she can’t really play, she manages to still make her mark on the team – stats aside. It seems the only statistic she’s worried about is how many people she can make smile in a day.
Mary started off playing baseball when she was younger which then shifted to softball. So both sports have been a huge part of her family’s life. Her family is always there to support, no matter what.
“Even when she’s not on the field, we can just see how much she loves the sport, and that’s enough for us,” says Brenda Thomson, Mary’s mother.
It’s easy to see that Mary is an inspiration for everyone around her. She has accepted her condition, and flipped it to put it into good use in her life. Whether it’s at a game or at home watching movies and eating Spinelli’s pizza, Mary has learned to cope with her epilepsy and focus on her blooming.