Allison Lowry and Wilma Rudolph have a lot in common. Allison is a track star at her high school in Arkansas. Wilma was a track star in the Olympics. Allison has a physical ailment that could stop her, but she doesn't let it. Neither did Wilma, who as a child suffered from polio — a crippling disease that has no cure.

So judging by the past, Allison has a good reason to persevere: she might get to the Olympics some day.

Since the surgery to replace her heart valve, Allison has been spending much of her time preparing for her next meet, not to mention getting psyched up to be a senior next year. However, she hasn't made any future plans. Right now she just knows where she wants to attend college.

"Probably the University of Arkansas, but that's all I've really thought about."

Her mother Tara Lowry says the family is taking things one day at a time and not concerning themselves with the future, especially not the next surgery.

"We just try to put it behind us, too. Just to live each day, and when that comes up, then we'll deal with it. We don't know; maybe they will come up with some advancements in medicine and maybe they can fix it the next time for good. That's just my prayer."

We asked Allison if she remembered the first thing she did when she recovered from the operation.

"Probably ate a lot ... I went through two weeks that I couldn't really eat."

She says to handle the stress before the surgery, she went shopping and to a baseball tournament.

Even though she will likely need another valve replacement in five to 10 years, Allison isn't concerning herself with any new medical breakthroughs at the moment.

"I think I will probably get a little curious when the next one comes up, but right now I haven't thought much about it."

In the meantime, she's focused on the ACT test and winning her next meet.