March 30, 2010
By Courtney Bradley, Penn State Athletic Communications Student Assistant
For many, the word superhero conjures images of Batman, Superman and Spiderman. For Penn State women's swimmer Bryeanne Ravettine, she thinks of her mother, Debra. The freshman has seen her mother conquer battles that would make Superman cringe; Debra is entrenched in a life-long battle with cystic fibrosis.
"My mom would rule the world if she could," Ravettine said. "With her condition, she shouldn't be able to do half the things she does."
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that leads the body to create thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and other organs causing infections and other serious complications. Approximately 30,000 Americans are living with this disease that has a life expectancy of 37 years.
Ravettine's mother is not only living with this disease, but has been surviving more than 40 years. After redshirting this season due to a string of illnesses, Ravettine said she could relate to how her mother feels.
While dealing with her own poor health during the fall season, Ravettine gained a new appreciation for her mother's fighting drive. Ravettine missed most of her inaugural season due to complications from the H1N1 virus, but she is currently back in the pool, which she calls her second home.
"When you're a swimmer, or any athlete, it's like having a split personality. You have your swimming world and your regular family and school world," Ravettine said.
Ravettine's earliest memories consist of visits to the hospital with her family, but she found an outlet when she started swimming at her local YMCA. At the age of seven, Ravettine tried out for the local club swim team and though she did not make the team the first time around, she persevered - trying out again and earning a spot on the team.
When it was time for Ravettine to choose a sport in high school, she chose to swim. At Immaculate Heart Academy, Ravettine excelled in the pool and the classroom. She held county records in various events and was named an All-North Jersey, All-County and All-State athlete each of her four years of high school. She posted an Olympic Trial time in the 50 freestyle in her junior year and competed in the World Trials her senior year.
"Swimming was two hours of just being a regular swimmer," Ravettine said. "It just really relieved all the stress in the world."
Ravettine and her sister, Rachel, both understood the implications of their mother's disease and learned to mature at a very young age. For Ravettine and her family, honesty is the best policy when dealing with cystic fibrosis, which helped Bryeanne and Rachel cope with their mother's illness.
"That's the thing I love about my family is that they let us know. They were good. They weren't just like mom has a little cold, they actually told us what was going on," Ravettine said.
Not only is Ravettine close with her immediate family, but also her extended family has been a beacon of support throughout her life. Ravettine's uncle is also living with cystic fibrosis and is surviving with a wife and twins. When one person has to go to the hospital, it becomes a family event and they have `little parties' that bring everyone together.
"The roughest part of it was leaving the hospital when my mom had to be there for weeks or months at a time," Ravettine said. "Going there wasn't hard - it was when we had to leave."
Ravettine was very involved in two Cystic Fibrosis organizations in high school. She worked with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, helping to raise money for the organization, which is searching for a cure and researching better medications to help those suffering with the disease. She was also involved in the New Jersey State Organization of Cystic Fibrosis.
Whether she is in the pool or at home, Ravettine knows one thing is for certain - she will always have her family. Although Ravettine's mother may be waging a constant battle for her life, Ravettine knows that her mother will always support her love of swimming. Her mother's will to fight cystic fibrosis helps Ravettine find the drive to succeed.