In October 2019, I entered the gym—like any other day—but that day forever changed my life. I experienced a hemorrhagic stroke, resulting in paralysis of my left side. My prognosis was grim. I was told it was unlikely I’d ever regain movement in my left side. But then, I was admitted to Spaulding, where I met my therapy team, the people I would spend the next year of my life with. They restored my hope and helped me achieve previously unimaginable goals. They were with me every step of the way.
After discharge, I was walking very slowly with a cane for support, yet I was still determined to return to my active lifestyle. One year later, I accomplished that goal and then some.
October 13, 2021 was the one-year anniversary of my final outpatient therapy session – and two days earlier on October 11, I ran the Boston Marathon for Spaulding’s Race for Rehab team. It was the most fitting way for me to pay forward all that I received. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to run again, so to run the Boston Marathon, and to do it in support of the hospital that gave me my life back – I can’t think of a better way to say thank you.