Tucker finds therapy through mermaiding

Heads turn when Lyman resident Ashley Tucker walks through Gold’s Gym in Greer on her way to the pool.

“People try to figure out what I am carrying. Then when I am swimming people do look, some even ask me why,” she said. “The staff have fully embraced the whole thing, and it is kind of cool when I am swimming and they bring a tour in, like oh yeah, we have a resident mermaid, too.”

While some think the tail is just for “playing” around, Tucker’s monofin has become an important extension of herself, serving as a means for physical and emotional healing after a devastating health scare.

“On December 16, 2016, I went from normal to a complete quadriplegic in the course of four hours. It was very scary to be honest,” she said.

The diagnosis was transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that damages the insulating material covering nerve cell fibers, interrupting messages that the spinal cord nerves send throughout the body. She spent one day the emergency room, 10 days in acute care, and 27 days in inpatient rehabilitation.

“My life has changed so much since being diagnosed with transverse myelitis. The treatments, doctor’s visits, therapy appointments–sometimes it is crazy. I have had to alter my diet and activities to fit my pain and function level.” Tucker said. “But to be honest, not all of the changes have been bad. I have learned to not take life for granted and enjoy the little things.”

Requiring ongoing physical and occupational therapy, Tucker sought out a method that would be most beneficial to her. Having loved the water since she was 3 months old, she first tried out a few aqua classes at the gym. She enjoyed the exercise, but her petite size of 4’10” caused her to be crowded out in the group classes.

“I loved being in the water, so my husband (who she originally met at the Greenville Gold’s Gym) went on the hunt for a solution. He found the monofin and mermaiding,” she said. “He thought that because your feet are together that my legs would support one another and the fin itself would help propel me easier because my arms are still very weak. And it worked!”

The water helps Tucker’s joints because there is no impact. She can swim for hours without feeling fatigue.

“I use mermaiding as my physical therapy now because you do have to use core muscles, and it is a total body strengthening and conditioning exercise…And really it soothes my soul.”

Meeting a mermaid
Tucker is now using her story and unique swimming style as an outreach to children, holding a “Meet the Mermaid” event and writing her own children’s book.

She will discuss her technique and her motivation after her diagnosis during a public meet-and-greet for children at Gold’s Gym Greer on Monday, July 22, at 6 p.m.

“I know people may think that being a grown person and being a mermaid is silly, but for me being able to swim helps give me an outlet. I have always enjoyed children so working with children is a huge bonus. What kid does not like a mermaid?” she said. “We all have some sort of adversity in our lives, and I just hope to show people and children that you still can achieve your goals even if you want to be a mermaid. Look at me, I have a rare disorder, and I am Miss Mermaid South Carolina.”

Tucker will read “The Rainbow Fish” at the event.

“I chose (that book) because it has a moral, and I think a story with a meaning is important,” she said. “I have a children’s book being released at the end of the summer, so ‘The Rainbow Fish’ will be taking a backseat. Sorry Rainbow Fish, but ‘Lynn the Mermaid’ will be here soon.”

“Lynn the Mermaid,” published by SynergEbooks, follows the story of a little girl that overcomes being sick to enjoy her dreams of swimming like a mermaid. It will be available late summer or early fall.

“I hope people look at me and see that no matter your circumstances, no matter your challenges in life, that you can do anything you set your mind to. I mean look at me, the doctors say I should not be walking, yet I walk myself to the pool and I swim. My MRIs say I should not be moving anything below my neck, yet I get up every day. I should not be able to swim because my diaphragm does not function at 100 percent, yet I can swim the length of the lap pool. We only limit ourselves.”

Gold’s Gym Greer is located at 1207 W. Wade Hampton Blvd. in Greer.

jholcombe@greercitizen.com | 877-2076