I Cried….

Last night I headed out on my run during my 60 minutes of free time. I used to have two hours but due to my daughter’s nightly medical regimen, I have to pick up my girls early from church.

So these 60 minutes fly by.

I laced up my shoes. Yes, I could have drove home and rushed around washing dishes, doing laundry or packing lunches.

But, I need this time. So, I laced up my running shoes.

My tunes play. My phone notifications get turned off. This is for me.

This run was different. This run I crashed. This run I cried.

I got lost as I put one foot in front of the other. I joke that I can often find the answers to life’s biggest questions while out on a run.

This time, I cried as I thought about how lucky I am to be able to be active. To be healthy, to have a body that moves.

I cried for my daughter as I questioned why simple things are so hard for her to do. The simple functions that we take so much for granted.

I have never had to think about how to eat. No one needs to teach me how to breathe. My body knows when I have to go to the bathroom.

Simple functions that I have never had to think about are so hard for others.

I train for marathons, others train how to function.

Others cannot even move their legs.

Mine have ran 26.2 miles before and will again.

So I cried. I cried for so many.

But, as a mom, I cried for my daughter. As a baby, from 6-8 months old, she had to go to the feeding clinic for therapy because she was not swallowing correctly due to her reflux and would choke all the time.

Then, she went through over six months of physical therapy from age 5-6 years old for her lack of nerves working prior to having to turn to surgery. We went a few times a week and she worked so hard but could not get her body to function correctly. I was crushed when her therapist told me there was no point in continuing because we were not making any progress and I had such high hopes.

Now, this week after exploring more of her asthma symptoms, we were told she has something called Vocal Cord Dysfunction that can make it difficult to breathe during activity. She has also complained of chest tightness so they want to run an echocardiogram to ensure there are no other concerns other than VCD and asthma. She will now return back to physical therapy to learn how to breathe correctly.

I was given a body that can move, can run; a healthy body. To not use it, to let this gift not be utilized would be such a waste.

When I get tired, I will run for those that can’t. For those that struggle with the simple functions that my body does not have to think to do, those functions that simply come natural to me, I will run.

I will run for my daughter. I will run for my buddy, Kingsley. I will run for those that cannot. When I get tired, I will push on. I’m blessed with a healthy and able body and I refuse to let this gift go to waste.

Until Next Time~