Family to Langley Faculty: Thank You for Saving Our Daughter's Life

Susan Shifflett, the girls volleyball coach at Langley High, knew the bump on Maureen Marsh's knee was "larger than it should be."

She had Maureen, 14, a freshman, see the trainer, then athletic doctor, Dr. George Aguiar. The MRI he ordered showed a growth. The biopsy showed a rare form of bone cancer in her knee. Then followed the chemotherapy. The loss of her beautiful brown hair. The surgery.

"Volleyball helped save her life," Carol Phelan-Marsh, her mom, said yesterday as the family thanked Shifflett and nearly 20 other Langley teachers, coaches and administrators for giving them back their daughter.

"The Marsh family cannot thank you enough," Carol Marsh told Team Maureen assembled in the principal's conference room. "All of you do what you do with no expectation of thanks. . . We're brimming with gratitude," she said,her voice cracking.

Mom was so grateful she called U.S. Rep. James Moran, (D-Va.) to ask for special recognition for the Langley faculty. She got it. Rep. Moran entered their story of concern and support for Maureen into the Congressional Record and yesterday came to Langley to give the staff a plaque containing the statement that is now part of the nation's historical record.

The Congressional Record entry begins: "Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize the administration, teachers, coaches and athletic training staff of Langley High School in McLean, Virginia for the care and compassion they showed in helping one of their students detect, cope, and ultimately recover with vigor and honor from an aggressive form of cancer.

". . . Although this AAA school is consistently ranked among the best in the country, their care and attention exemplified by their role in Maureen Marsh’s life tells a deeper story; holding lessons for everyone to learn from and follow."

Moran told Monday's  gathering, "This is testament to the Langley High School community, their collective efforts to devote themselves to Maureen. I was so impressed with you."

After the Oct. 15, 2009 biopsy confirmed the cancer, Maureen, Marsh, of Great Falls,  endured 90 plus nights at Children's Hospital for her chemotherapy treatments.

Two weeks before her Jan. 31 birthday in 2010, she went into surgery where they replaced her knee and her femur. She now walks and plays volleyball with a titanium rod in her leg.

She recovered at home the rest of the school year. Her parents hired tutors. Her Langley teachers kept them informed. She kept up with the schoolwork. She came to school just to take the SOL test.

She returned in her sophomore year, joined the volleyball team and did whatever she could to help, until she was cleared to play.

Now a junior, she earning straight A's said proud papa John Marsh.

Maureen, now 17, with her hair back, says she's delighted that she has stayed with her class.

What has she learned from her ordeal? " Take it slow and you get through it." She has learned patience, she said.