Results & Photos :: Your Reasons to Run
Hi!
I am running with my brother Kale who is a quadriplegic. He is hand cycling with Suwee, his service dog. Since my brother's skiing accident in 2000 when he broke his neck and the passing of two dear friends one from ALS and the other a 16 year old car accident, I started running. I run because they cannot but the exciting part of my story isn't me it's my brother. He has never complained or wavered from his fall. He lives in Wilmington, NC with limited help completed college and has a great job. He is brave and courageous. I ran a marathon (Disney), 2 halfs (where I met Mr. Penguin himself @ OBX) and numerous 5k's but never have I had the privilege of running with my brother. This is his first longer run and I am proud of him and so honored to run by his side. We are doing the 5 miler and we grew up in Denton, NC.
Thank you,
—Michele Watkins Mazey
Kale Watkins & Suwee
As a paramedic, I see sickness and death every day. I've seen death take the old and the young. It's not going to get me. I walk thru it unscathed. Or so I thought!
In early summer of 2004, I finally went to see the doctor after fighting a "chest cold" for about 6 weeks. Over the next several months, I underwent more and more invasive tests in an attempt to diagnose my illness. Along the way, my symptoms went from an annoying cough to one that seemed as if my lungs would come up. I lost nearly 40 pounds in 6 weeks. I walked into my hematologist's office alone on a Friday afternoon. I actually remember thinking that this was going to be a wasted $25 copay. My doctor changed my life with one simple sentence, "I think you have Lymphoma. We just have to prove it." It's amazing when being told you have cancer is a relief, but that was actually my reaction when I was finally diagnosed on Sept 22, 2004. I underwent 8 rounds of chemotherapy over the next 8 months, spending every other Wednesday watching that wonderful red poison be pumped into my veins. Just writing about that is enough to bring back the taste in my mouth and make my stomach churn.
I have to admit that I was anything but the "normal" chemo patient. Chemo was miserable in a way that no one can ever understand without experiencing it themselves. Not only was I working full-time in an office role during chemo, I was also dating and trying to raise two kids. The week before my first treatment I met Karen. We had been out on two dates before I told her about my diagnosis and my upcoming treatments. She was incredibly supportive of everything that I was going through. She accompanied me to nearly every treatment or office visit. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary in October with a trip and a surprise proposal.
I knew that my disease was beatable and I lived my life that way. I was a cancer patient but that didn't limit my life. I worked, played with my kids, even went skiing twice that winter. I think I had several advantages in this fight. I had a loving supportive family who stood by me. I had so many things to live for, and I already knew how precious life is because of my job. I sometimes wonder how this experience has changed me. I'd like to be able to say that it turned my life around or made me change my priorities. I can't say that those things happened, but I'd like to think that I already had my priorities straight before this. It has made a difference in how I care for other patients though. I always felt like I had a good bedside manner before getting sick, but I certainly have a new appreciation for not only the physical challenges but also the mental challenges that come with any illness.
I originally wrote the story above for a posting on the Livestrong site. I like to re-read it occasionally to remind myself where I've been. But… life goes on… my story didn't end with my diagnosis and it won't end even when I'm gone. Hopefully, my children and my family and friends will learn from my journey and take it wherever it may lead them…. So where am I these days? Life is never dull. Karen and I had a beautiful daughter, Madison Grace, on April 4th, 2007. She is an incredible blessing and makes me smile just thinking about her. The other three children of our combined marriage continue to bless, and challenge, us. We are currently coaching two different soccer teams, 5/6 and 7/8. In between coaching, family time, and work, I've been hooked on triathlons. I finished my first two sprint distance races in 2006 and went overboard in 2007. So far, I've finished my first duathlon, my first half-marathon, five sprints, and my first three Olympic distance races. I've got two more half-marathons on the calendar for this fall/winter and am planning on moving up to the Half-Ironman distance next year for two races.
—Eric Morrison
Community Relations Coordinator
Mecklenburg EMS Agency