Karson's courage
Emerging from a coma and battling a brain tumor has given eighth grader Karson Kocher a new approach to life on and off the court.
By Michael Orr

Photo by Mike Maddock Karson Kocher talks strategy with Hammond head coach Carol Fowles during the Skyhawks' semifinal match with Ashley Hall in this year's SCISA 3A tournament.

In late October, the doubles team of Karson and Madison Kocher won first place at the U.S. Tennis Association's Junior Team Tennis 18 & Under Intermediate National Championships held in Tucson, Arizona. Coupled with a 2006 state championship at the Hammond School, the sisters are an amazing story and a true testament to hard work. But the accomplishments alone do not reveal the most difficult and inspiring path that led Karson to this success.

From an early age Karson's father, ophthalmologist Dr. Gary Kocher, put a racket in her hand and taught her the skills necessary to succeed. As a self- described intense player himself, Dr. Kocher trained his daughters to play hard and play well.

Karson excelled as a child and possessed a tremendous backhand. But as she approached junior high school, Karson began to lose interest in tennis. Perhaps her own desires were elsewhere, or maybe she was just a pre- teen avoiding the things her parents asked. Either way Karson began to think beyond tennis.

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Karson Kocher hits a forehand against Heathwood Hall earlier this season.

But Karson was not given an opportunity to seek for herself other interests as fate intervened and changed her life forever.

At age 11, Karson suffered an insidious brain tumor that caused intracranial bleeding and put her in a coma for three weeks. When she emerged from her coma, Karson was paralyzed on the right side of her body and sustained significant memory loss including short- term memory abilities.

While Karson and her family immediately began rehabilitation, progress has been steady but difficult. "It took us two weeks for Karson to relearn the four seasons," says Dr. Kocher of their early struggles in memory retention.

As doctors continue to monitor the tumor in her brain, Karson's body has regained its former strength. Miraculously, the tumor has gotten smaller and has losened its grip on Karson's ability to learn and remember new information.

Photo by Mike Maddock Madison Kocher in her semifinal match against Ashley Hall.

After such a physical and emotional nightmare, Karson got back into tennis. According to her father, the Kochers hoped getting Karson involved in an activity in which she excelled prior to her illness would reinforce a positive attitude and give Karson good ground to restart her life.

While the temporary paralysis was an obvious hindrance, the strength of Karson's backhand allowed her to succeed shortly into her recovery. Playing doubles with her sister Madison helped hide the new weakness of her forehand and foster the bond between the sisters. Working with Billy Stearns of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy on Hilton Head Island, Karson redeveloped her game and advanced her physical rehabilitation.

When asked how important her family has been in her recovery, Karson says, "What is the biggest word you know? That's it!" Whether its vocabulary quizzing on the way to school or a spirits- lifting lunch with her father on Fridays, Karson has embraced her family in a way some do not. The Kochers have rallied around Karson as a family and have grown closer through her efforts on the court and throughout her life.

One of the most important lessons Karson has learned is to take and appreciate small steps. Because of the memory loss caused by her tumor, she has a harder time in school than she did as a child. It often takes twice as much effort to accomplish the same goals, so the Kochers have helped teach Karson to change her goals. That is not to say great things cannot and will not happen through Karson, but she now seems to understand that she can be satisfied in the effort put forth into whatever she does. Karson and her parents do not focus on grades as much as they do on the learning process. "We want to see her succeed and as long as it's a positive process, we don't worry about the outcomes," Dr. Kocher adds.

Having her sister as a teammate has also been a great help in Karson's recent rebounding. "We complement each other extremely well," Karson says, "and now we think on the same level."

The intrinsic compatibility and understanding between sisters gives the Kochers an edge on the court and also in life. Bringing out the best in one another as teammates has translated into a close bond and another support to lean on in the ongoing process that is Karson's recovery.

There is much worthy of emulation in Karson Kocher. While many look far into the future, Karson sees life a little differently now. "I just want to get through the eighth grade," she says.

Karson Kocher took life's most difficult serve and returned it the only way she knows how; with patience, perseverance, and enthusiasm.