I don't run many 5Ks, mostly because I like to put my money towards something that is going to force me to train and prepare. I often use registration money to keep me accountable to an exercise routine:) If I run a 5K, it's either because it's going to be a lot of fun or benefit a really great cause. I feel like I've found both in the annual Lise and Faith Memorial Run.
The ironic thing is, in the past I've never known anyone personally involved. I heard about the race a few years ago from my friend/previous neighbor Lexi. On Memorial Day weekend in 2011 Lexi's close friend Lise, who was 7 months pregnant with a little girl named Faith, was hit and killed by a car while out running on vacation. Every year since, Lise's family and friends come together to put on a 5/10K for the community to remember Lise and baby Faith. Every year they choose someone else in need to donate all proceeds of the race. A ton of work obviously goes into this event, and the first word that comes to my mind when I think of it is completely selfless.
We were out of town for last year's run, and I was looking forward to this year. When I put it on the calendar and realized it was the same weekend Dan was going to be out of town on a highly anticipated backpacking trip with his friends I procrastinated my registration, not sure if I would be up for it by myself with the kids. As it drew closer I kept reading over the story of Cora, the beneficiary of this year's race. I couldn't get it out of my head, and finally just decided we would make it a family event minus one daddy.
When we got to the park, I felt sick when I realized that I knew Cora. I had never known her last name, so I didn't recognize her from reading her story. If you've never heard our family talk about how much we love our doctor, than you've never asked us for a recommendation:) He's a family practice physician, which means he has delivered our babies, done all of their well-child stuff, and takes care of the kids and I for anything else that necessitates medical care. He's fabulous. We love that he is laid-back, a believer in chiropractic care, respectful of our opinions, caring (who else follows up with a sick kid with a personal phone call?), and makes us laugh every time we're in his office, even if we're dealing with kind of heavy stuff. Equally as wonderful are his staff. Cora was our nurse in his office for a very long time. She was Jacey's nurse as a baby almost 11 years ago, and was still there when we came back after finishing school. She took care of me when I was pregnant with Sadie, and took care of us on all of our visits for a couple years after that. She was super friendly. I felt completely comfortable with her, and soon felt like she knew my family and I well, even though I'm sure I was just another patient to her:) I specifically remember her making me laugh telling me about a practical joke she played on Dr. Taggart when he kept suggesting the name "Kevina" for our unnamed baby girl. They were just fun like that.
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| Cora and Dr. Taggart |
At the race, I found out that Cora was the recipient for the money raised by the 2014 Lise and Faith Memorial Run. As I was reading and rereading her story in the week prior, seeing the name "Cora" (which is not super common) made me wonder whatever happened to Cora, our fabulous nurse. Now I know. She left because she took a job at our local hospital. She is also fighting stage 4 cancer. She was diagnosed 5 years ago with breast cancer, which has since spread. Five years ago I was pregnant with Sadie. That's what she was dealing with while she was taking care of me. I never would have guessed in a million years. It's made me think a lot the past few days about how you never know what people are dealing with. It has made me want to be a little bit nicer, a little bit more patient, and a little bit more forgiving. I am incredibly amazed by her strength.
In the meantime, the kids and I continued our walk/jog/swap routine. About a half mile before the finish, at almost exactly the same time, Sadie and Broden suddenly REALLY had to go potty. With a little more incentive to pick up our pace, I did the only thing I could think of. I stuck Broden in the stroller with Camden, threw Sadie on my back, and looking all kinds of pathetic we barreled through the rest of that race as fast as we could. (Which was not very fast, but faster than the pace of a child crying, doing a potty dance, and running all at the same time:)
It was a really great morning. After our potty stop, with exhausted kids and my mind still reeling from the chaos of the actual race, we came out just in time to hear the call for anyone who has ever been a patient of Cora to meet in the field for a picture with her. It was a great reminder of why we were there, and a perfect opportunity to have a conversation with my kids as we were walking to the car about how incredibly blessed we are with healthy bodies and that not only can Sillitos do hard things (something they hear daily:), but we should always look for opportunities to be helpers, and especially that we can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth us (Phil. 4:13), no matter what physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional challenges may come.
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| Cora and all of her patients who showed up for the race. |
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| Side note: This 10-year-old girl ran a 19 minute 5K to win first prize in the Women's 5K division! I still can't wrap my head around that. Incredible! |
