Paralympic swimmer defying the odds all of his life

By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
BEDFORD - When he was a baby, doctors feared Danial Murphy would never walk, talk, sit up or speak.
But Murphy, now 20, has far exceeded those expectations. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as an infant, he suffered medication resistant epileptic seizures until he was deemed ready to handle brain surgery at the age of 10.
"The surgery was a success and recovery went well and the seizures stopped. In addition, Danial had at least nine other orthopedic surgeries," his father John Murphy wrote in a biographical document he shared with The Weekly News.
"Danial was now able to experience something closer to a normal life. Although he would always have to deal with some physical limitations, he began doing better in school and all other aspects of his life."
At the age of 10, Murphy joined a Bedford swim team. At the age of 13, he moved to the Sackville Waves, a team which had more experience working with swimmers who faced physical challenges.
When he was 15, coaches started to take notice of his swimming ability. By 2008, Murphy was becoming a veteran on the para-swimming scene and was travelling to meets throughout Canada and the United States. Last July, he was selected to the Canadian National Team for the Para Swimming Championships in Brazil.
Last month, the Bedford resident celebrated yet another success. He came fifth in the world in his first international competition as a member of the national paralympic swim team. His 200 freestyle performance was a proud moment in the life of the young athlete, who spends an average of 10 hours per week in the pool.
"One of my biggest accomplishments so far is becoming an international swimmer and getting to do the higher level meets," he said.
"I would say 10 years from now I'd like to go to the Paralympics and keep doing what I'm doing."
Murphy's will to defy the odds has been an ongoing theme in his life. Despite his hectic swim schedule, he graduated from Charles P. Allen High School in 2008.
In addition to his swimming, volunteering, and part-time work, Murphy recently incorporated a non-profit foundation.
The focus of the "ICAN" Association is primarily to help those with physical disabilities get involved with sports. It will also serve to increase their educational and employment opportunities and address issues of accessibility.
"If you want to go to a gym, for example, people might have wheelchair doors everywhere, but once you get into some of these buildings you can't maneuver around stuff," he said. "Sometimes even if you're not in a wheelchair you might have trouble going up the stairs, or doing something simple like zipping up your jacket. That can provide challenges."
Murphy wants to not only advocate and increase awareness of the needs of those with physical disabilities. He also hopes his foundation can serve as a resource that will help match up people with physical disabilities to more user-friendly buildings and opportunities in their communities.
His advice to anyone struggling with realizing their dreams?
"Sometimes it can take years and years to achieve that dream, but if you keep with it, eventually something will happen," he said.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca