Sunday, March 20, 2011

Update in one fell swoop - I will be cheering, not running, in Boston

As I have demonstrated that I am not a good blogger (I keep thinking of what to write in my head, but never getting the chance to sit down and write it) I have decided that instead of trying to fill everyone in on the sequence of events, I would cut to the chase:

After having been in and out of doctors' offices, physical therapy, having had Xrays, a CT scan, and an MRI, AND having sought a second opinion, on March 4, 2011 I was put into a "boot" (a walking Aircast) because I have a stress fracture in my right heel.

I will be in the "boot" until at least April 7, 2011. I am in the boot in order to reduce impact on my right foot, although at least I can walk (and I can take it off at night, to shower, and I can take it off to drive, which is HUGE!). The marathon is April 18, 2011.

You may have guessed it, but just in case - what that means is that I will not be running the 2011 Boston Marathon this year.

I am, of course, incredibly disappointed, frustrated, in some ways angry, upset, and all of the range of emotions you would expect.

However, I am also able to truly say that the fact that I will not be running does not lessen my commitment to the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge or why I started this journey in the first place. I am participating (and I am STILL a participant - I am STILL a DFMC team member) in honor of my friend Mita, who will have her last radiation treatment tomorrow (March 21, 2011). I have a stress fracture. It will heal in time. The DFMC is not about me, it is not about whether or not *I* cross the finish line. It is about something much bigger than me - it is about raising money to help innovative young researchers with their work so that we can realize the medical advances that will help us continue to fight, and ultimately, to cure, cancer.

I am participating in honor of Mita, who still inspires me every day. I am participating in memory of Lucius Cole, my grandfather-in-law (whom we called Bapa), and Florence Carlson, my grandmother. And for so many other friends and family who one way or another have been affected by and in their own way have fought cancer.

Steve and I will still be in Boston. We are signed up for the Pasta Party - so I still plan to carbo load the day before the marathon. But instead of taking the many steps side-by-side with Dad throughout the marathon, I will be cheering Dad on with Mom and Steve. I still am crossing my fingers that I may be able to run Dad in the last mile of the marathon (after all, I am a registered runner with a team shirt, a number, and a bib!) and I may be able to "finish" the Boston Marathon this year - even if I do not start it. (Don't worry - I am not going to try to claim that I ran the  marathon!)

On top of the stress fracture I also have plantar fasciitis, which I have been dealing with (through stretching, athletic tape, very painful "massage" by my physical therapist) since the end of January. That would not have stopped me - and was not stopping me. However, I was getting further and further behind in my training because I had been sidelined completely for a week, and then only allowed to do a little bit for a while. I ended up seeking a second opinion because I felt the first doctor just wasn't listening to me. I had hoped that the second opinion would result in the words "Get back to running full strength!" Although those were the words I wanted to hear, I think I also somehow knew deep down that there was just something that was still wrong that was not being addressed. Unfortunately, I was right.

So - that is the brief version of the update. If anyone is interested, let me know and someday I can regale you with the journey from the first doctor's visit to the "day of the boot" - which included anti-gravity treadmill running, aqua jogging, lots of physical therapy (which Sasha and Neezer, our cats, would "help" me with my lying and snuggling next to me as I did my exercises), etc.

As I mentioned, Dad will still be completing the marathon and I am still a team member. That means we are still raising funds for this incredible cause. Please consider supporting us, if you can, and if you haven't already:

www.runDFMC.org/2011/cameron



1 comment:

  1. While this is a bummer for both of us, you will still be with me throughout the marathon. I really look forward to sharing the excitement of the weekend with you (and Steve), and especially to that last mile if all goes well. In the meantime, we each have our own schedules to follow as we support the DFMC Team.

    Love you, Kenzie. Dad

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