This story begins with a team of hard working middle age women who had a dream of making it to the USA League Tennis National Championships. This year we had the honor of repersenting the USTA Southern Section. With a lot of luck at the Alabama State Championships we received the wild card and advanced to Sectional Championships at Loiusville, KY. Then with a lot of luck we made it through and won the final match. After sectionals we had two months to get ready for Nationals.

During this time one of our teammates Lynne Starnes thought she hurt her back. When she went to the doctor she found out that she had a tumor on the base of her spinal cord and that she would need surgery to remove this tumor. Many people would have quickly had this serious situation taken care of, but not Lynne. She went to Nationals with us and played a really good tourament. We finished 2nd at the 3.5 level.

The following week Lynne went in the hospital and had her tumor removed. She is doing well but would like to ask that anyone that reads this to please say a prayer for her. She is the type of person who never complains and is tough as nails. We are lucky to have her on our team. She is an inspiration to us all and we love her dearly.

-- Jeritta Barnes, Huntsville, AL