"Back in the Swing"

Jill Griffin of St. Rose High School in Belmar , N.J. was a force to be reckoned with. With a 12-4 record in 2000, this young, talented softball player was on top of her game. However, Jill wasn’t on the pitcher’s mound for her 2001 and 2002 seasons. She was homebound. Her life a blur of headaches, pain, dizziness, nausea, crushing fatigue and dozens of trips to doctors who could not explain her illness. Then in spring 2001, Jill was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome ( CFIDS ).

Her goals? Getting back in school. Going to her senior prom. Graduating on time. All events that most high school kids take for granted. With at home tutoring, she was eventually able to return to school part-time, attend her senior prom and graduate. “I was determined not to let this beat me,” she said. There were some days when I wasn’t feeling well, but overall, I wanted to get through this. No questions asked, I was going to get through this.”

Jill’s strong belief in herself not only enabled her to reach her aforementioned goals but it also brought her back to the ballpark and the game she so terribly missed, softball. In May 2003, Griffin took the mound once again, pitching four strong innings. Her first strike in the fourth inning cleared the bench. Her teammates presented her with balloons, the crowd gave her a standing ovation.  

As for batting that day, “I got all nervous when my turn was coming,” Griffin said. Walking up there [to the plate] for me was kind of a miracle because at times I couldn’t even walk, so that walk into the batters box was such a big deal.” She drew a walk “I can’t exactly run to first, so I walked as fast as I could,” she added. “I couldn’t stop smiling because I hadn’t been on base since 2000. It was an overwhelming feeling. They put in a pinch runner for me, but when I got back on the bench, I smiled the rest of the game.”

But she didn’t stop there. Inspired by the Tom Hanks film “Philadelphia,” she would hold a fundraiser to raise money for and awareness of CFIDS. She organized a benefit softball game: her team –vs- the St. Rose baseball team. The event was a success, raising over $3,000.00 for The CFIDS Association of America. Jill hopes to “help researchers come one step closer to finding a cure to help me and [help] other people with CFIDS have a chance at a normal life.” She also believes that “though my fundraiser I have opened many peoples eyes to the seriousness of CFIDS.”

Jill is currently will be taking a few courses at her local community college – she hopes to be strong enough to head to a four-year college in 2004.

Good luck & thanks Jill!