Change of Pace for Devaney
Woburn sprinter's struggles are inspirational By Joe Reardon
November 2003 Woburn High’s Julie Devaney wasn’t overly pleased with her 29.6-second split for her 200-meter leg in the Sprint Medley at last Saturday’s Class B Relay Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Despite the fact that she played a big part in the Lady Tanners’ fourth-place finish in 4 minutes, 31.3 seconDT, advancing the team to this Sunday's McIntyre Relay Championships, Devaney was frustrated she hadn't run a faster 200 leg.
The 17-year-old three-sport athlete, though, only stays disappointed for so long these days before she takes a deep breath and puts her athletic career in perspective. Things have changed for the talented senior. Devaney is forced to look at athletics in a whole different light after undergoing heart surgery the day after Christmas in December of 2001 at Boston Children’s Hospital to repair an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). The defect involves small holes in the septum between the heart’s two atria, which causes blood to leak from the right atrium, putting strain on the right side of the heart. Devaney had 12 small holes that needed to be repaired.
It was tough news to take for Devaney, who described herself as a "tomboy" growing up and playing sports as a youngster. On the track team alone, she competes in the long jump and sprint events. The surgery went smoothly but there were some scary moments later that evening when surgeons had to go back in after a blood vessel burst on Devaney’s heart, causing both her lungs to collapse. Devaney’s condition was so dire, the operation had to be performed in the ICU because time lost moving her to the operating room could have proved fatal. Amazingly, Devaney was able to start a walking regiment just two weeks after her stay in the hospital and began running slowly eight weeks later.
Devaney admits there were moments in the hospital when she doubted if she’d ever be able to compete again in the sports she loved again. "I remember being so weak," said Devaney, who lost 15 pounDT during the ordeal. "I didn’t know what I’d be able to do when I came back." Devaney has been able to do plenty. Not only was she able to resume playing soccer and competing on the indoor and spring track teams, Devaney also resumed her other passion -- singing. She sang the National Anthem prior to the relay meet and was on the Fleet Center ice two days later, doing the same prior to the Bruins game against the Washington Capitals. Devaney auditioned during her sophomore year for the chance to sing the anthem at the Bruins games and passed with flying colors. "I love to do it," she said. "I get nervous before hand but it goes away when I start singing."Prior to her surgery, Devaney simply thought she was suffering from asthma heading into her junior year and the soccer season. She had a tough time catching her breath and was more fatigued than she’d ever been in the past. But a heart defect? The thought never entered her mind. Doctors examined her and decided the best course of action was for her to wear a heart monitor. An EKG revealed the small holes and the doctors scheduled the operation for December.
Devaney was able to play soccer at her halfback position that fall and compete for the first month of the indoor track season leading up to the surgery. All the while, doctors told her not to go all out in either of the sports. Even now, Devaney feels the affects of the evasive operation. It takes her longer to recover from physical activity and her times have dropped off a bit. The cold, winter air is more taxing on her breathing compared to the warmer, spring conditions. Devaney, though, has taken her limitations in stride and enjoys track all the more. "My times are slower and its been really frustrating," she said. "I get mad because I haven’t been able to run fast for a long time. You mature a lot during your high school years but I matured even more with this experience. I had to understand it would take a long time to recover. I don’t take things for granted anymore." |
