Katie’s strength

Baby Katie came about a year after Luke died. They say time heals wounds, but Katie was the perfect remedy for Mark and Katie Courson. They wanted someone to love ? someone who would grow ? someone who would learn from them ? someone who would show character when confronting adversity.

Twelve years later, Katie is becoming known for her athletic accomplishments ? the Newport Heights Elementary sixth-grader won a state title in the shot put for her age group.

Yet there’s more to her.

There’s so much strength in Katie Courson that most see when she’s putting the shot. But there’s a force behind her not many know about.

Sure she’s won and found success early as a 12-year-old in the shot put. But, sometimes, there’s more to winning. And in Katie’s case, it’s simply about living.

She was born six weeks premature ? 3 pounds, 8 ounces. There was joy for Mark and Sharon Courson at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, but they were hesitant to truly celebrate. They could never forget Luke, who died stillborn in the sixth month of Sharon’s pregnancy.

Mark Courson dealt with the process of cremating Luke, while Sharon lay in the hospital, doctors advising her of the risks of a future pregnancy.

Sharon hardly listened. She wanted a baby so bad. She loved her husband, the one she met while teaching and working in Santa Ana. A baby would be a sign of their love.

Less than a year after Luke died, Sharon Courson was taking steroids with hopes of gaining weight. She was 5-foot-4, 112 pounds, but added 75 pounds with the intention that Katie would survive the birth.

Yet, after Katie was born, it was Sharon hanging on for life. A priest read her last rites, as her body weakened due to complications from the birth. Through hospital care and family support, Sharon recovered, but she was never the same.

Seizures and illness followed since Katie’s birth. Sharon Courson has had to take medication and blood thinners to fight off sickness or trips to the hospital. There are good days and some bad. The medication causes frequent memory lapses and other side effects, Sharon Courson said.

“I knew there were risks, but I didn’t care what it was going to take. I wanted to have her,” Sharon Courson said. “She’s so beautiful. She’s here and to me that’s all that matters.”

Katie says she does her best to make the most of her life. She realizes the sacrifices her mother made.

When she competes, she just wants to make sure to throw as far as she can. It’s simple. In everything she does, she wants to do her best. Twelve years ago, she was a tiny baby, blessing the lives of her mother and father. She wants to continue to do so.

“She a miracle child,” Mark Courson said. “She’s a fighter. She has always been a fighter.”

Katie proved as much in a competitive sense when she won the shot put at the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation track and field regional meet, June 4 at Long Beach City College.

The field was state qualifiers, who won their county championship for those born in 1993. Katie entered with the fourth-best mark, yet rose above to win the title with a throw of 25 feet, 2 inches.

The victory gave Katie a strong indication that she had found her niche. She also likes to play basketball. She plans to compete in both basketball and the shot put at Ensign Intermediate next year.

Until then, she will savor the shot put victories. She also won the city competition April 21 at Newport Harbor High and the county meet May 7 at Trabuco Hills High.

Along the way, she received training and help from her father, as well as a few tips from Newport Harbor High senior Bo Taylor, who won the Nike Outdoor Nationals discus title Friday and was second in the shot put on Saturday.

Mark Courson said Bob Sampson also trained with Katie and passed on teachings about mental strength.

Emotionally, it seems, Katie has already developed strength. That comes from her relationship with her mother and father. There is much love in the Courson home.

“In the morning, before she goes to school we say, ‘I love you’ to each other maybe 16 times,” Sharon Courson said.

Said Mark Courson, “She has had to be strong. She has had a load to deal with. We’re just grateful for her.”

Katie draws strength from her family and that includes Luke. She makes sure to never forget her late brother.

“I think her brother is behind her sometimes,” Sharon Courson said.

That is something Katie will always remember.dpt.21-shotput-CPhotoInfoB81S64EB20060621j16lm0ncJAMIE FLANAGAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Orange County shot put champion Katie Courson has won several shot put medals in a short time.