From Life Support to Marathon Runner: This Is Why I Run

I was just 16 years old when I was told, “You have Myasthenia Gravis," and in that moment, my entire life changed. I was young, an athlete who played soccer and ran track, and I was pretty good, too. But almost overnight, it was all gone. I lost the ability to walk, talk, swallow, and eventually, even breathe. Hospital stays became the norm - so did life support.
During one of my many hospitals stays, a doctor stood at my bedside and told me it was time to accept my fate, that this was simply how my life would be. I couldn’t speak, so I picked up the notepad beside me and scribbled one word that changed everything: NO. That "no" became my lifeline. It carried me through years of setbacks, treatments, and hard-earned victories.
I finished school. I built a career. I got married. I became a mom. And in 1997, I launched the first annual MG Walk in my hometown. After 20 years of organizing the MG Walk, I stepped away to focus on a new set of goals and not long after, I went into remission.
It's been six, MG-FREE years and I feel incredibly blessed to have made it to this point. Looking back, battling MG was really my first marathon - unpredictable, grueling, and sometimes lonely. It taught me patience, grit, and how to keep moving even when progress felt impossible.
Now, at 52, I’m training for the TCS New York City Marathon. I’m running for everyone still fighting this disease. This race isn’t just about crossing a finish line, it’s a full-circle moment. A celebration of resilience and proof that you never give up on your goals, no matter how long they take.
Please consider supporting my journey and donating to help fund MG research, raise awareness, and give hope to those still in the fight.
#MGStrong #MGAwareness #FromNoToMarathon #WatchMeRun #TCSNYCMarathon