Haley’s Story

When Dick Rosenthal retired as athletic director in 1995 after a lifetime of service to the University of Notre Dame, he was asked about the most memorable moment during his tenure. Without hesitation, the chief of sports at America’s most storied university replied, “Haley Scott.” When the Notre Dame women’s swim team suffered a fatal bus crash, the lives of those on the bus, their families, and the community were changed forever. Paralyzed after the accident, Haley Scott was told she would never walk again. That was unacceptable to her. With the help of those who cared most about her - her family, her school and her teammates - she chose a different fate and promised not only to walk, but to swim again for the Fighting Irish.

I am Haley Scott and this is my story. It is the story of a young girl who fights for her life, and then for her dreams, and then for her life's happiness. It is the story of family - both the one to whom I was born, and the one created around me as I faced my life’s greatest challenge. It is the story of my faith, which was undefined at the start, but has come bursting out stronger because it was so tested. It is a story that has already touched the lives of those whom I have met, and a story I look forward to sharing with you.