Born nine weeks early and weighing under two and a half pounds, Darcy Fruhschein learned earlier than most that life is filled with challenges, a lesson that inspired the recent North Brunswick Township High School graduate to help others.
“I look at adversity as something that made me stronger and led me to personal growth,” Darcy said. “I had some medical challenges that required emergency surgical procedures (at birth) and other surgical procedures as I got older.”
Forty-five minutes after being born, Darcy underwent a tracheotomy, the placement of a tube through a hole the surgeon makes in the front of the neck into the windpipe to help a patient breath.
Darcy also had a gastrostomy tube inserted through her belly to bring nutrition directly to her stomach, ensuring she could receive the fluid and calories needed to help her grow.
She lived with the tracheotomy until she was just over a year-and-a-half old. The tracheotomy and gastrostomy tube limited activity, such as “tummy time,” which could have resulted in physical delays.
“My parents made sure I had the right care to help me progress,” Darcy said. “This involved multiple therapies during each week. While children were in their bouncy seats, I was working with professionals on my development.”
As Darcy grew older, the need for medical interventions dissipated. Years later, she would prove not only the ability to make up for what could have been perceived as lost time, but also demonstrated a precocious empathy to help those less fortunate.
Darcy’s extensive volunteerism – coupled with her success in the classroom, in the athletic arena, and in extracurricular activities – positioned her to receive a Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete scholarship.
“My path has not always been easy,” Darcy said, “but as I overcame challenges, I have realized that I have great empathy for others and am happy to help them succeed.”
In addition to maintaining a 3.987 grade-point average, being ranked among the Top 10 percent of her graduating class, establishing herself as one of the conference’s best bowlers, being a section leader with North Brunswick’s marching band, and starting on the high school golf team, Darcy still found time to help others.
She received the Peer Advocate Award from the Township of North Brunswick for her many contributions and outstanding academic record and was presented with the Saint Timothy Award for academics and community service from the Diocese of Metuchen.
“As I grew older and was rid of my prior conditions, I became involved in my township soccer program,” Darcy said. “I enjoyed playing but I felt most rewarded when I became a Buddy Ball Volunteer. Through that program I had the opportunity to help lesser-abled children learn how to play soccer … It may have only been for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning for me, but I learned from one of the coaches that it meant the world to the participating children.”
Darcy eventually traded in her soccer cleats for a pair of bowling shoes, competing in the latter sport for the first time as a high school freshman.
“I took a leap of faith and decided to try out for the girls varsity bowling team,” Darcy said. “I had never bowled before, other than with bumpers at a birthday party, but I thought it would be a good sport for me.”
A quick learner – perhaps from the obstacles Darcy had to overcome since birth – the novice blossomed into a three-time All-Division and two-time All-Conference bowler before making the All-State team as a senior.
The team captain and anchor averaged 194.6 with a 241 high game and 651 high series as a senior.
She also worked with friend and student-athlete peer Mackenzie Keane of East Brunswick to co-found a bowling fundraiser tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer support.
Darcy said she and Mackenzie spearheaded the event in honor of their private coach, “whose family has been hit hard by breast cancer,” and to “help spread awareness” as well as “provide a fun morning for youth bowlers.”
According to one of her former Advanced Placement teachers, Darcy’s thoughtfulness and consideration of others also took place inside the classroom.
“Darcy was an incredibly energetic, polite and kind student,” the teacher said. “Despite the fact that she was definitely one of the best students in my class, she was very humble and approachable by peers. She was always one to put herself in the position to assist others. It was clear that her peers would look up to her.”
A member of the National Honor Society and the TriM National Music Honor Society, Darcy can add being a Marisa Tufaro Foundation Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship recipient to her resume.
The award is a fitting conclusion to the scholastic career of Darcy, whose first competitive high school bowling tournament was the Marisa Tufaro Classic, a fundraiser for the nonprofit that also generated holiday presents for hospitalized children through a toy drive.
“Marisa Tufaro has impacted many lives even after her untimely passing,” said Darcy, who will continue her academic and athletic career at Sacred Heart University.
“This is something that Marisa will not be able to do, but I hope that I can continue to use her story as an inspiration and to continue to help my community.”