I imagine it my mind, this massive plan, like a world street map with millions  and millions of intersections. Each of our routes uniquely drawn. Twisting and turning and doubling back and converging…our life paths.

My life path crossed with Jill when we were kids. So long ago I don’t remember the nature of that first intersection, but we were friends for a long time and then we weren’t. Our paths diverged, went in different directions separated by 1000’s of miles and decades and then one day they met back up again. I would like to say it was some moment of wonder, but it was through Facebook that we reconnected.  The wonder would come later.   I loosely paid attention to Jill’s life. Watched her raising her two beautiful boys. Became aware that one of her sons had a disease I didn’t really understand and couldn’t name. We liked each other’s pictures, dropped some comments here and there on each other’s pages, but we really didn’t know each other.  Even now, I’d say we don’t know each other, but maybe we are learning.

And then the wonder came… an affiliate company to the one I work for had developed a product that was meant to help with upper body mobility for people with muscular disorders.  I saw a video that we created with a young boy demonstrating the use of this device.  I didn’t know at the time that this boy had the same disease as Jill’s son. I didn’t know at the time that this boy was someone Jill knew, that this boy was part of an amazing tight network of families with sons that have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). All I saw was an opportunity to maybe help Jill’s son.  Through a series of messages on Facebook and calls, emails, we connected all of the dots.  Through the generous support of my company I was able to get this medical device for Jill’s son and found myself on a plane traveling to Phoenix so that I could witness the install of the device on Anthony’s wheel chair.

Just like that, our life paths were again, intertwined. Inextricably it would seem.

That was a few years ago now and while I still would say I don’t know Jill well, I am in awe of who she has become.  Fierce warrior for her son, infinite energy for his cause, amazing center to a family that is by far from traditional in nature but is bound by an incredible amount of self-less, unconditional love.  She’s the founder of a nonprofit dedicated to helping youth that won’t take a traditional route to college  find their path and purpose.  She’s a mother, daughter, partner, friend, sister, teacher, advocate, fighter….. You can’t help but look at Jill and think “I need to do better in this world. I need to do more in this world.”

As her son gets older, his disease gets more complicated, more limiting.  But you don’t see Jill backing down.   Being the incredible force that she is, she decided to sign up for the 2017 New York City Marathon as part of the Parent Project Run for Our Sons charity team.  A bucket list item for her, but also a reinforcement of her commitment to fight what seems to be an endless battle to find a cure for DMD. This wasn’t going to be easy for her, she knew this.  AC’s health was requiring more of her time, her back is not what it used to be after years of lifting her son as he lost more and more mobility.  This was not going to be an easy journey, but she’s pretty accustomed to that. She’s also accustomed to the reality that things don’t always go as planned.  So, she created a backup plan.  She couldn’t accept the thought of taking donations for her cause and then not being able to run.  She couldn’t accept the fact that she might be letting these boys and their families down if she couldn’t complete this journey.  So, before she even got started, she asked someone if they could run for her in the event that things didn’t go as planned.   That someone was me and well you really just can’t say no to Jill.

And so, things didn’t go as planned and on November 5^th, I will run the New York City Marathon, a mere 21 days after I will run my first marathon in Detroit.  I am honored to be running for Jill, running for Anthony and running for all those boys that have DMD.  I’ll be running with a heart overflowing with gratitude that my children are healthy and most importantly running because I can do more in this world.

We have to raise $3,000 so that I can qualify to run.  If you would like to donate to the Parent Project, please follow the link below.

 

http://www.parentprojectmd.org/site/TR?px=1187841&fr_id=4533&pg=personal