Runner Amanda

I used to run 5k races before I had my son in 2009. After having my first child, exercise went to the back burner with all that entails with having a newborn. At my son’s 15 month well baby check up, his pediatrician thought his belly seemed distended and maybe his spleen might be enlarged so she ordered an ultrasound for the following Monday. On December 6th, 2010 they found a tumor in his belly, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of Stage IV Neuroblastoma cancer. He then endured surgery to remove the tumor, 6 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, 5 weeks in the hospital for a stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of radiation and 6 months of oral chemo at home. One night during his stem cell, laying in the recliner feeling sorry for myself, for us I remember thinking I will never run again. My life is over as I ever knew it. But as he continued to fight, to battle and he never once gave up or felt sorry for himself, he lit a hope in me. Once he slowly started to get better and I learned how to start living again and that I could and actually should start taking care of myself again, I started to venture out and run again. Then I started signing up for 5ks. I ran my first half marathon in 2013, which ran right by his hospital we spent so much time in. This last year I decided to run 5 half marathons over the course of the year in honor of him reaching his 5 year survival post treatment. He even ran 4 5k races with me as well! Each step to me is a step away from cancer. Each step is moving forward and signifies to never ever give up hope. I can’t wait to keep running with my warrior who taught it all to me.