Boston Marathon Shirt benefiting BCH

Last year I had the incredible opportunity to run the Boston Marathon with the Miles for Miracles team at Boston Children's Hospital. Running for a hospital that has always been close tomy heart, while raising money for the children I care for as a nurse each day, was indescribable. This year I was honored to be selected again, and have decided to run the Boston Marathon one more time.

The main reason I decided to run again this year was my patient partner, Brooke Coleman. Brooke has been such an inspiration to me since I had the pleasure of meeting her last December. Born with transposition, Brooke spent a great deal of her life on the cardiac floor at Boston Children's. However, she has never let obstacles get in her way. After our first marathon experience together last year, Brooke also joined the track team at her school. I would not have finished all 26.2 miles without her motivation.

I will additionally be running the 2019 Boston Marathon in memory of my big sister, Rochelle, who was also born with transposition. Rochelle passed away on the cardiac floor at Boston Children's before her first birthday. Her heart was donated to Children's for surgical research, which has already saved so many lives. Attending tours of the cardiac department with my family as a child originally inspired me to become a nurse. I have been extremely blessed to work as a nurse in this very department for close to three years and to be able to raise awareness concerning congenital heart disease.

Did you know that nearly 1 out of every 100 children is born with a congenital heart defect? Although medical expertise and surgical interventions have come a long way, neither can progress without funding for research. Please consider making a donation as I run the 2019 Boston Marathon in honor of all the children who mean the world to me.