MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University tennis team has presented its inaugural Perseverance Award to former student-athlete
Katie Marshall C'16.
Marshall was presented her award from Drew Director of Athletics
Christa Racine and Tennis Head Coach
Geoffrey Diehl C'21 prior to the Rangers' Landmark Conference match versus Elizabethtown College this past Saturday in the Simon Forum.
Marshall then shared her inspiring personal story in which she overcame a life-threatening medical incident after graduating from Drew.
A native of Sacramento, California, Marshall transferred to The Forest in the fall of 2014 and competed for the Ranger women's tennis team for two seasons. Just over two years following graduation, Marshall fell ill with intense stomach pain and after an initial misdiagnosis, it was revealed that her intestine had burst. After falling into septic shock, she was in intensive care for eight weeks and left in a medically induced coma for six weeks.
Despite the incredible setback – she was unable to move her muscles after regaining consciousness – she remained positive throughout a lengthy recovery process and used a tennis metaphor for motivation.
"I told myself I was down an early break in the third, and that I wasn't going down without a fight," she shared.
After several months of intense physical therapy, Marshall was released from the hospital nearly four months after the initial incident. "In my eyes I won the third set 6-2," she said.
Though her recovery was just getting started – she could initially walk just 10 steps to and from the bathroom – with the help of her family she progressed from using a wheelchair to walking with a cane to walking with no cane.
Despite some lingering physical challenges, Marshall remains positive. "I'm winning my biggest match yet – life," she said.
Marshall closed with the following words of encouragement:
"I would like to tell you to take it one point at a time. Don't let one thing take you down. Just make sure you keep putting one foot in front of the other."
