The high water part was no problem.

Several years ago, Morrison, who clocked some of the best times in the United States, had a promising future in competitive swimming.

Then came the hell.

A brain tumor sidelined her. Surgery to remove it put her back in the water.

Then the tumor came back with a vengeance, so doctors removed it, again. That was in January of 2006. The tumor was malignant and doctors said she had only three or four months to live. The surgery also left one side of Marin’s body paralyzed.

“It was horrible,” said Marin’s mom Nancy.

The family, who had moved from Atlanta to the Seattle area, fought back. They did research, put their daughter on a macrobiotic diet, supplements, you name it.

She began swimming again, at Eastlake High School, and her tumor began to shrink. Then her dad Matt was laid off from his new job.

While he still looks for work, the Morrisons face astronomical medical and therapy bills and the cost of Marin’s treatments.

In Bellevue, Wash., twins Cadie and Jessica Kneip heard of the Morrisons’ financial struggle, and decided to do something about it.

The 17-year-old seniors at Bellevue High School have organized a nationwide bake sale, Cooking up a Miracle. The girls are asking all pools and clubs throughout the United States to participate by hosting individual bake sales to raise money for the Morrisons. Their goal:  $100,000.

“We just know what it’s like for kids, like us, in a normal situation, to go through every day,” Cadie said. “She’s the same age we are, and she’s got cancer on top of everything else and then financial problems on top of it.”

Marin faced a new challenge several weeks ago when doctors discovered that her tumor was growing. Last week she underwent a gamma knife radiation procedure, a one-time high dose of radiation, to attack the tumor.

“We’re praying for the best,” Nancy Morrison said.

The same day Cadie and Jessica’s Web site announcing the bake sale, cookingupamiracle.com, went online.

Former club swimmers themselves, the twins have already personally contacted more than 1,000 clubs.

“Some of them have said they’re totally on board for it,” Cadie said. The girls are hoping the Web site will bring as much club participation as possible to help a fellow swimmer.

A positive point in the Morrisons’ life came earlier this summer at the Summer Can-Am Championships, July 13-15 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Marin made U.S. Paralympics Swimming’s 2007 National Team and broke several national records.

In the meantime, Marin has restarted her 1 ½-hour, 5-days-a-week practice regimen. 

“She’s thrives off support from the swimming community,” Nancy Morrison said. “It’s much better for her to wake up every day living for a purpose rather than living to be sick. She’s incredible and happy and smiling and making the best of every day. I look at her every day and say, ‘Wow.’”

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