Lexie Mulvihill Using Inspiration of Her Late Brother In Record Breaking Season

After her brother, Jake, misplaced his battle with most cancers earlier this 12 months, Lexie Mulvihill discovered motivation by sharing his story. When she broke the Florida state highschool document within the 50 free in November, Lexie knew Jake was watching over her and that he’ll at all times be shut in spirit.

When eager about her brother, Jake, one reminiscence specifically stands out for Lexie Mulvihill: their household journey to Hawaii.

In September 2019, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Jake’s want of vacationing in Hawaii. For one memorable week, the Mulvihills swam with sharks, visited Pearl Harbor, and loved time collectively in paradise away from the fact again house in Florida.

Picture Courtesy: Lexie Mulvihill

“I do know Jake was in a lot ache, however there wasn’t a second he wasn’t smiling,” mentioned Lexie. “It was wonderful seeing him comfortable, and the household time made all the pieces so value it.”

Jake had been identified with a benign mind tumor when he was seven years outdated in 2012. Regardless of having sure limitations, he was wholesome sufficient to take part in regular childhood actions. The 2 siblings swam collectively on Group Velocity earlier than Lexie joined Tampa Elite Aquatics.

Quick-forward seven years, and Jake was identified with mind most cancers in April 2019 after the tumor instantly tripled in dimension. He had his first mind surgical procedure two weeks later, adopted by seven extra surgical procedures, weekly chemotherapy periods, and 25 rounds of radiation.

Picture Courtesy: Lexie Mulvihill

As Jake’s situation began to worsen, Lexie had a intestine feeling one thing was improper after her coach pulled her out of form one evening. When the physician instructed her household it was time to say their goodbyes, she laid within the hospital mattress subsequent to her brother for 18 hours.

On March 19, 2020, Jake misplaced his battle to most cancers.

“It was laborious as a household to determine learn how to course of all of it,” mentioned Lexie, who’s two years older than Jake. “We have been greatest pals. It was actually laborious as a result of if one thing went improper, I might go to him first, however I don’t have that anymore.”

Not wanting anybody else to expertise their ache, the Mulvihills have been keen to assist different youngsters combating pediatric most cancers. As a substitute of being despatched flowers or meals after Jake’s passing, the household created a donation page on the Nationwide Pediatric Most cancers Basis (NPCF) web site for pals and family members to donate in his honor.

“My immediate thought afterwards was that Jake wouldn’t need me to be unhappy,” Lexie mentioned. “Youngsters shouldn’t be dying of most cancers, and I’m attempting to make use of his story as motivation to make the world a greater place.”

Picture Courtesy: Lexie Mulvihill

She knew she needed to do one thing, in order that’s precisely what she did.

Over the summer season, Lexie created the Jake’s Battle Most cancers Membership at George Steinbrenner Excessive College in Lutz, Florida, to boost cash to assist NPCF. Because the membership’s founder and president, her faculty has already raised over $5,000 from completely different fundraisers. A number of different excessive faculties have adopted her lead and began their very own clubs, and Lexie gave a speech about Jake’s story at a NPCF gala.

As a result of Jake swam, Lexie discovered it laborious to get again within the water after his passing. Figuring out she solely had one 12 months left at house and that her brother was her greatest supporter, she determined to hone in on her coaching.

That call paid off.

On the Florida 4A State Championships on November 7, Lexie blasted a time of twenty-two.30 within the 50 free throughout prelims to tie the state document held by Christina Swindle, a two-time national high school swimmer of the year who swam collegiately at Auburn. Mulvihill, who additionally received the 100 fly, then lowered the 18-year-old state mark to a blistering 22.22 throughout finals.

“It was validation that I may nonetheless do that,” Lexie mentioned on her state-record efficiency. “It was a breath of contemporary air, and it was refreshing understanding that each one my laborious work was paying off.”

The Mulvihills, who mentioned Jake had became a butterfly, now really feel his presence each time they see one. Lexie even wears a short lived tattoo of a butterfly when she races to function a relentless reminder that her greatest good friend and largest cheerleader is rarely too distant.

Picture Courtesy: Lexie Mulvihill

And for all 22.22 seconds it took Lexie to interrupt the spectacular state document that had stood for so long as she has been alive, she knew her brother was proper there together with her.

“I wasn’t feeling good earlier than my race, and I used to be sitting down behind the blocks to attempt to shake out my legs,” Lexie mentioned. “Then, out of the nook of my eye, I noticed a butterfly. It was my signal that it was going to be a great race and that Jake was watching over me.”

With a state document the cherry on prime of her highschool profession, Lexie is now eagerly awaiting her subsequent journey: beginning faculty at Auburn College in 2021.

“I simply received this sense of that is the place I wish to be and that that is my house,” she mentioned, reminiscing on her recruiting journey. “I wish to be on a staff the place it’s a household, and I do know I’ll have that after I go to Auburn.”

Lexie, who formally committed to the Tigers final month, knew Auburn was the right match for her due to its constructive environment – one thing that has been extraordinarily vital to her this previous 12 months.

“My brother was at all times such a cheerful and loving particular person, and seeing how constructive he was resonated with me,” she mentioned. “I spotted that being unfavorable isn’t going to get me wherever in life, and I’ve to be as constructive as potential if I wish to achieve success with the issues that I do.”

After all the pieces she has gone by means of, Lexie’s constructive outlook demonstrates a maturity and resilience past her years. Regardless that she’s the older sister, Lexie has at all times appeared as much as her youthful brother and finds pleasure in telling others about his upbeat, loving character.

“It’s comforting understanding that I’m in a position to share his story, and I take pleasure in doing it,” she mentioned. “It jogs my memory of how wonderful he’s and the way fortunate I’m to have him as my brother.”

Now each time she sees a butterfly floating by means of the air, she is going to comprehend it’s Jake smiling down from heaven, reminding her of how fortunate he was to have Lexie as his sister.

Picture Courtesy: Lexie Mulvhill