a real life reminder; mackenzie pratt.

 A year ago today, a friend, teammate, and inspiration of mine passed away at age 21. Mackenzie Pratt grew up in a town not far from mine. She loved softball just as much as I did, if not more. She was a three-sport high school athlete, a D3 college softball star, an avid volunteer, and one of the most positive people I have ever had the opportunity to share time with. We played at summer softball tournaments as teammates, sharing hotel rooms together, meals together, and an enormous amount of laughter. "Mac," as we would call her, would be the one person you could count on to remain positive even in times of loss or hardship on the softball field. What I didn't realize was she was the same way in times of profound personal struggle. Her junior year of high school, she found a strange lump in her neck and after several tests, including one which doctors discovered a softball sized tumor in her chest, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She never let it phase her. She remained incredibly positive throughout treatments despite being physically and emotionally exhausted. That was just how Mac was in all parts of her life. Treatment allowed her to resume high school classes and her real passion; sports. She graduated and went on to attend Norwich University and join their D3 softball squad. The cancer came back a second time, she received more treatment, and continued to push forward in pursuing her nursing degree, which her disease inspired her to pursue. The beginning of her senior year, the cancer came back a third time and this time it beat her, with just months to go before receiving her diploma.

The thing I remember most vividly about Mackenzie was just how positive she was during the extremely long and trialing battle. How easily she could have given up the fight and let it defeat her years before it did. Instead she somehow always had a smile on her face, and never wanted people to feel bad for her. She kept the best attitude and fought with grace and heart. 

"She was an inspiration to young and old alike with her spirit, perseverance, and positive outlook that extended into, not only her stellar college career at Norwich, but her day to day interactions in general.  We would have been remiss not to honor the amazing young woman she was." -Geri Witalec.

Mackenzie's legacy lives on today through several scholarship funds and through the constant reminder of just how short life can be. I urge you to let Mac's story give you a changed outlook. Life is short, but tragically shorter for others. When life throws you the worst kind of curve ball; fight. Fight for those who lost the battle before you and the ones that will lose it after you. And at the end of the day let us all keep our own trials and tribulations in perspective.