---

When Kim Brown crossed the finish line at last year's Danskin Women's Triathlon, it was a clearly a victory.

Brown, a North Attleboro resident, didn't come in first place that day. But completing the race itself signaled the end to a medical nightmare that included a battle with a flesh eating disorder, nine surgeries and a year of physical therapy in which Brown learned to walk again.

It was in 2004, just after competing in her second Danskin Women's Triathlon, that Brown noticed some pain in her abdomen. She learned she had several fibroids that had become inflamed. In early 2005, she decided to have a laparoscopic hysterectomy to take care of the problem for good.

But within three days of the surgery, she was at the emergency room in severe pain from an infection that continued to worsen, requiring two surgeries and two blood transfusions.

Doctors initially could not identify the infection, so with some help from a friend, Brown was transferred to Boston Medical Center. She had two more surgeries that appeared to go well at first. However, her temperature spiked and doctors decided upon a third surgery, and placed Brown in an induced coma for the next 10 days.

While she was out, Brown was flown by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she endured more surgeries and sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. Her husband, Gary, was told the surgeries might leave her with limited mobility from the waist down.

"It was a nightmare. She went through three hospitals and nine surgeries. Every day it seemed like something worse was happening," Gary Brown said.

But, finally, some good news arrived.

Doctors at Mass General were able to diagnose the problem - a strep infection had progressed into necrotizing fasciitis, which is more commonly known as "flesh eating disorder."

After diagnosing the problem, doctors were able to treat it and Brown began a yearlong recovery.

When she awoke, Kim Brown was told that she was lucky to be alive.

"Repeatedly, my doctors and therapists told me that I was so lucky that I had been a runner and triathlete because the health of my heart and lungs had probably saved my life."

It was actually at a friend's urging that Brown first became in involved in triathlons.

In 2003, when a friend suggested she participate in the Danskin Women's Triathlon, Brown laughed, thinking the event was out of her league. "I had been walking for a few years and even started a little running, but certainly not a whole mile yet," she said. "Well, over the next week, as I rushed around carting kids from one activity to the next, I kept thinking about it. I liked to swim, loved to bike and, well, could almost run a whole mile. Why not?"

After spending the spring training, Brown participated in her first Danskin Triathlon, which includes a half-mile swim, a 12-mile bicycle ride and a three-mile run. She successfully completed the triathlon and was hooked.

"It was an awesome experience. So inspiring to see so many women taking on the challenge. Women of all shapes and sizes were working toward their individual goal. I felt such a sense of accomplishment that day," she said.

After her illness, Brown needed physical therapy to re-learn how to walk. But it wasn't long before she set her sights on competing in another triathlon.

"I'll never forget the look on the physical therapist's face when we saw my abdomen and then I told him my goal to be able to run again and do triathlons. He had a challenge on his hands," Brown said.

After a year of physical therapy, Brown did just that - competing in the 2006 Danskin Women's Triathlon and finishing with times similar to her 2004 triathlon to boot.

"A little short of my goal, but not too bad considering everything," she said.

Brown is still in physical therapy to work on issues related to scar tissue but has completed her first marathon and is planning to try an Olympic distance triathlon.

And, of course, she is training for the 2007 Danskin Triathlon, which will be held July 29 in Webster.

This year, she's looking forward to introducing three friends to their first triathlon, which will make the event even more special. She trains six days a week for up to two hours.

"My friends and family have been really incredible," Brown said. "They don't treat met like there is any reason that I can't do things."

And the Danskin Triathlon results from 2006 certainly prove them right.