The People Who Are Boston Stronger

He was the face for Boston Strong at the Bruins game last May. Yet as he says in his book, "Stronger," "I'm not a hero. I'm just a guy with no legs."

I felt honored and blessed to have met Jeff Baumann who is indeed a hero at a book signing at the Team Store on Yawkey Way before we were scheduled to take the field at Fenway for the pre game ceremony tribute to the Boston Marathon.

There was such amazing synchronicity throughout Marathon weekend. Despite thousands of people in the City, we seemed to be bumping into people we knew at every turn. We arrived early for the book signing not sure of how long the lines might be. We were greeted by the person who was working with the publisher for the publicity for "Stronger". Since there were no lines yet, Tom and I decided to take a walk around Fenway until it was time for the signing. As we were walking, Tom told me that we know that person who was working with the publisher. We thought about it and were finally able to come up with who it was.

We returned and a small line had formed. Jeff took time with each person in line, chatting, signing and patiently taking photos with all who wanted their photos taken with him.

While we were waiting, the person working for the publisher looked at us and us him and we said, Jeremy Solomons, right? He told us this is his new gig now. He explained that the publisher invited Wellesley Books, where he is the store manager, to be the bookseller on record. He came around from behind the table and hugged us. He shared with the woman assisting him that our kids used to babysit for his kids. He pointed out his son Jared who we could barely recognize given the passage of time. We caught up with each other and then it was time to meet Jeff.

Jeff is gentle and humble. We told him how honored we were to meet him and then I felt moved to share my story with him. When I told him that I contracted paralytic polio as a child and 7 years ago went back into a leg brace using a wheelchair at times for mobility, being given the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease but went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon as a mobility impaired runner, his eyes lit up. He kept looking at me from head to toe saying, "You look so good. You're doing so well." I could see the feeling of hope going through him. We talked about Spaulding and how I continue to go there twice a week for Aquatics Therapy classes. He told me he goes for outpatient therapy once or twice a week as well. We didn't talk about where we were last April 15. There was no need but we did mention that we volunteered for this year's marathon as packet stuffers and would be taking the field at Fenway. He was excited saying that he would be there as well.

Part of being Boston Stronger is allowing ourselves to be vulnerable with each other. We acknowledged how challenging it is to live with a condition that will require care and treatment our entire lives. While I am blessed to have my legs, and certainly cannot compare the challenge of amputation with my challenges, we do share the challenges of living with residuals from trauma, healing from surgeries, and living with a condition that requires daily care and vigilance. Yet we also share resilience, persistence, gratitude and feeling lucky despite all that happened.

With his eyes sparkling with youthful innocence and excitement, he shared with us that the Red Sox invited him to be a part of batting practice. He told us it was the first time he was able to throw a pitch standing up. "Every other time I threw the pitch from the wheelchair." Gomes hit a home run off of him but he didn't care. He was thrilled to be out of his wheelchair and able to stand on his own.

I'm almost finished reading Jeff's book. I am so impressed with his honesty. He allows himself to be raw and vulnerable. Yet he consistently talks about how lucky he is and how grateful he is to everyone who provided him with an outpouring of kindness and generosity during his recovery.

As he shares in "Stronger", after the Wounded Warriors visited him at Spaulding last year, he set a goal for himself: to be able to walk when it was time for the 2014 Marathon. Taking the field at Fenway, he met that goal and exemplified what it means to be Boston Stronger!

One Year Later - Boston Stronger - A City of Brilliance and Resilience

It is hard to find the words to express what I felt about being in Boston today. I thought about just posting photos from the BAA 5K, the One Mile Tribute Walk/Run and the Expo but I do need to try to put into words what today meant to me, and all of us whose lives were forever changed on 4/15/13, Bostonians and those who have come from all over the world for Boston Marathon weekend.

As we were walking toward the start, we bumped into John Young ...out of thousands of people, we found each other. We met at the Hoyts 5K several years ago and stay in touch in social media:



We shared a few moments of pure love and joy.

This time one year ago, we were a city in shock. Three died in the bombings and a fourth died a year ago yesterday in the line of duty as an MIT Police Officer. There were 280 people with physical injuries; over 30 people requiring amputation. We lived through the bombings and lock down and wondered how do we come back from these events. President Obama spoke words that made me cry but I wasn't sure if I actually believed him...



On 5/25th, we did the #onerun. From my memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility":

After dinner, Tom and I were scrolling through Facebook.

“Oh look they are doing a #onerun tomorrow,” Tom said.

“I am terrified to be a part of that,” I answered.

“Then we have to register,” Tom said.

It waa a cold, rainy day but the love and solidarity of the community and the shared experience of pain brought us a sense of warmth knowing that we were taking steps toward healing.

When it came time for the BAA 10K that my daughter and husband were running in, I was not going to go. I was terrified to be at the start/finish line but when I woke up at 6:30am, I knew that I was not going to allow fear to rule my life.

I noticed how much calmer I felt at today's BAA 5K. There was a collective energy of healing. There were no strangers as everyone struck up conversations with everybody else at the finish line, while waiting for the ladies room and standing side by side watching the Tribute Mile.

There was a sense of physical and emotional wounds healing and a celebration that this weekend has finally arrived.

As we arrived for the Tribute Run/Walk, everything that seemed surreal suddenly felt so real. Participants sporting shirts that said FBI, Boston Police Fugitive Unit, Homeland Security and ATF brought to light for me how everyone quickly came together to track down and capture those who wreaked havoc and terror on our city. Seeing survivors I had seen in the news before me, helped me to realize the resiliency of the human Spirit to move through life altering events. I marveled at the technology and dedication of our medical community as John Odom, Adriane Haslet-Davis, Heather Abbott, Roseann Sdoia walked or ran down Boylston Street to the finish line.

There was security everywhere. Police Commissioner Evans and the Boston Police Department were out in full force. There were bomb sniffing dogs and Tom noticed heavy security out on the course.

We went to the Expo and had lunch at the Forum where many survivors and supporters of survivors gathered.

Kindness, compassion, softness and strength; tears, laughter and a sense of moving forward filled the air. We met up with several people we knew and everyone acknowledged the raw emotions colliding with excitement and relief for Monday's race. The superstition of not wearing the marathon jacket or shirt was discarded as runners wore their shirts, their jackets and their runner passports around their necks.

All the work of those running on Monday is done. Our work as support crew is done. Tomorrow we take the field at Fenway Park representing the BAA volunteers in a Marathon pre game ceremony.

For today, the sun was shining and the sky was a beautiful blue blessing our beautiful city of brilliance and resilience.

Here are those photos from the day:


And a few more:
Our T selfie on the way into Boston:


Tom's view of the race:



We OWN this finish line!



Here is a link to WBZ's coverage of today's Tribute Mile.

BAA Volunteering for Packet Stuffing Day

I had heard about packet stuffing day from my friends who were members of L Street and Merrimack Valley Striders Clubs. They talked about how much fun it was and of course at the end of your shift you get to receive the coveted volunteer jacket and Marathon pin. I never imagined that I would be a part of this amazing event but then again there are a lot of things I "never imagined" doing (like running the 2009 Boston Marathon) but were clearly a part of imagining events I would like to be a part of.

I feel so blessed to have been a part of this morning's packet stuffing day and want to give a huge thanks and shout out to Tom Licciardello, who by the way wrote this amazing article about this year's marathon: Boston Marathon Buildup Intensifies as Race Draws Near.

It is so exciting to be a part of support crew and see what goes on behind the scenes to put together the runners' packets. I remember that feeling of exhilaration when we picked up our number and our bag on 4/18/2009. Who knew that there were over 50 people/shift working side by side to make sure we had our programs and all the information we needed about race day. Here are the photos from our shift including a photo with my Tom holding a book that Tom's wife, Lyn put together to commemorate the 2013 Boston Marathon. Enjoy!



And for all of my runner friends near and far, here is my poem Ode to Marathon Training from A Celebration of Life to inspire you:

Ode to Marathon Training - March 22, 2009
Blisters, black toes, aches and pains, a change in my routine
Long training runs, the hills, the sprints running clothes fresh and clean.
Carbo load and plan each meal power gels and gatorade
no matter what the weather no time to be afraid.
Humid - hot or freezing cold snow against the face
wind or sun or raining those running shoes I must lace.
What mile is this how long we been out check heart rate drink H20
meltdowns joys and triumphs only a few more weeks to go.
Heartbreak Hill won't break my heart this year has been the best
found myself and made new friends I feel incredibly blessed.

My memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" which chronicles my 7 year healing odyssey including my 2009 Boston Marathon run and healing in the wake of the Boston Marathon 4/15/13 is also available through Amazon.

Thankful Thursday

Dear Weather Goddess,

I am so deeply thankful for this day of 40 degree temperatures and sunshine. As you know, you have been creating a lot of intense winter weather and on this one day, I was hoping that we'd have moderate temperatures and no storm.

Why? Well you know the answer because, well, after all, you are a goddess....

Tonight is a very special night. After months of planning, it's time for Singing Boston Strong:Karis' Karaoke for a Kause.



We will be sending out thank you's but I want to publicly thank everyone who have made tonight's event possible:

To Karis Antokal -- thank you for your strength, your passion, your commitment and your being a little nuts to making your first endurance event the Boston Marathon (that's pot calling the kettle black right?). Thank you for being you and it is an honor to co host this event with you. Thank you to your family for donating the autographed Tom Brady Jersey for the take a chance drawing tonight and thank you to your mom for bringing you into this world 29 years ago on 3/2!

To Limelight Stage and Studios manager, Henry Wong for saying yes without hesitation when I asked if we could have our event at your venue. To Chris, the house manager who said we could set up anytime after 4:30pm and said he is so happy to welcome us to Limelight for our event. And to all of you who are coming out to Sing Boston Strong tonight!

To Kevin Fitzgerald, owner of Jacob Wirth Restaurant -- thank you for your incredible generosity in making sure that everyone goes home a winner! Kevin donated a $50 gift certificate, four $25 gift certificates and as many $10 gift certificates as people who attend the event up to a total of 80 people. We'll have a drawing at the end of the evening.

To our donors for the Silent Auction Items:

Rick Penn for his donation of Celtics Tickets (face value $350.

To our donors for our Cape Getaway:
One night midweek stay at the Inn on the Square Falmouth
Island Queen for four adult round trip vouchers
A gift card to Landucci's Restaurant

To Marathon Sports Brookline for hosting me last Saturday to promote the event. For your generous donations of a $30 gift certificate and giving us a pile of gloves to sell and keep the proceeds for Spaulding.

To Rick Leskowitz for your donation of The Joy of Sox Movie DVD's which will be used for our Silent Auction and a Take a Chance Drawing.

To my dear friend Lee Woodruff who always comes through for me donating 3 books autographed by Bob Woodruff and herself.

To Julie Ingalls who is the marketing director at Stapleton Floral Design - thank you for the $75 gift certificate and the gift of your friendship through the years.

Thank you to my husband and daughter for being support crew to me as I once again took up the reins for fund raising for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Hey at least this time we're not in training too!

And thank you to Spaulding Rehab Hospital for being there for me since October of 2006 when I faced an uncertain future and was terrified of what was happening to my body. I would not be where I am today in my healing journey were it not for your place of healing.

Here's to a wildly successful event tonight as we raise our voices and Sing Boston Strong to raise lots of money for Spaulding Rehab!

105 Days To Go...

until 4/21/2014 when many of my dear friends are going to be taking their places at the starting line of what is sure to be a very emotional Boston Marathon.

As I write in my memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility,"

"4/12/13
Off to have lunch with Ernst van Dyk at an event organized by Spaulding Rehab, and refresh my Boston Marathon run memories that I had once denied. After I read Matthew Sanford’s book, “Waking”, I somehow got the idea in my head that I needed to deny ever having run the Boston Marathon. I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable after reading Matthew’s book which of course was not his intention but my interpretation of how he talked about not having to do something spectacular like running a marathon when you live with a spinal cord injury. "

Four years after crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon, I knew it was time to celebrate with the Race for Rehab team at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. As I have repeatedly said, we were so fortunate to not have witnessed the carnage first hand and to have gotten out safely and yet our lives were forever changed on that day.

I feel a strong bond with my friends old and new who are running this year. Tom and I are donating to charities that our friends are running for and I am helping Karis and Greg with their fund raising efforts by helping them to organize fund raisers which will not only raise money but bring the community together. They are running as part of Spaulding's Race for Rehab team this year. We were in the Mandarin together and together we are going to raise some serious money for Spaulding where many of the survivors found their strength and a way to put their lives back together after Marathon Monday.

Tom and I have renewed our membership with L Street Running Club and signed up to volunteer at water stops during long runs. We have signed up with the BAA to volunteer for packet stuffing.

105 days until the Boston Marathon...there's a lot of work to do for runners who will be running long and are Boston Strong. There's a lot of work for fund raising, community building and being a part of support crews as we continue to move forward and heal.

Here's to getting to the starting line healthy....


Ode to Marathon Training - March 22, 2009 from A Celebration of Life available on Amazon
Blisters, black toes, aches and pains, a change in my routine
Long training runs, the hills, the sprints,
running clothes fresh and clean.
Carbo load and plan each meal power gels and gatorade
no matter what the weather no time to be afraid.
Humid - hot or freezing cold snow against the face
wind or sun or raining those running shoes I must lace.
What mile is this how long we been out
check heart rate drink H20
meltdowns joys and triumphs only a few more weeks to go.
Heartbreak Hill won't break my heart this year has been the best
found myself and made new friends I feel incredibly blessed.

Pivoting - Like a Boss!

During last evening's class with Karis Antokal (who by the way is running Boston 2014 for Spaulding Rehab) she up leveled the exercises for Tom and me. Rather than simple side stepping, she wanted us to move quickly as though we were pivoting in a basketball game.

As a survivor of paralytic polio, I never could play basketball. The polio virus had damaged my spinal cord; neuromuscular development to allow for learning contralateral movements was affected. After coming out of a leg brace three years after I contracted polio, I experienced 9 years of unrelenting trauma taking a further toll on my body and neuromuscular system. Seven years ago, my body virtually shut down in the guise of post polio syndrome.

It's been an incredible healing odyssey and this past year, I have experienced profound healing of mind, body and Spirit. You'll be able to read about it in my soon to be released memoir, "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility."

Last night, in the warm, healing waters of Spaulding Rehab's pool, and with the coaching, coaxing and cajoling of Karis and Abbey Turner (who is the pool coordinator), I closed my eyes and went within channeling my inner Larry Bird. I could feel the awkwardness of my movements but it didn't matter. I was creating and nourishing new neural pathways. Tom Myers, in his article on Kinesthetic Dystonia speaks to how important it is to create new neural pathways through movement especially after an injury or disease that affects neuromuscular coordination. We also did a circuit with jumping jacks, squats, twists and high knees.

For the past 54 years I had been searching for ways to come out of being trapped in a form forged by paralytic polio and trauma. Since regular bodywork sessions and now the blessing of the Aquatics Therapy program at Spaulding, I am discovering the joy of movement in my body. I am aware of the blessing of grace in this second chance and being able to get out there and twist and pivot - like a boss!

Next week I turn 60 years old on Christmas Day. My birthday Christmas wish is that you donate to Karis' Boston Marathon Run on Crowdrise. Bless you!

The Shell from A Celebration of Life now available on Amazon

The shell of a person
a shadow of the me I was meant to be
broken heart
broken hearted
encased
entombed
or so I thought…

a protective shell
as a cast protects a broken bone
a chrysalis
fragile inside and out
tender protection
facing death
transformation
beyond what eye can behold

free now

to fly!

Boston 2014 Runner Spotlight: Karis Antokal

"The answer to the big questions in running is the same as the answer to the big questions in life: do the best with what you've got."
-Unknown


"I'm not a runner -- well not yet anyway," Karis said to me during yesterday's Aquatics Therapy Class at Spaulding Rehab.

"Oh yes you are," I said somewhat out of breath as Karis put us through our paces with Michael Jackson's tunes keeping us pumped up during the Find Your Aquatics Strength workout.

I reminded Karis of this quote:



Karis applied to the 2014 Spaulding Rehab Race for Rehab Team inspired by the strength and courage of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings who received their care at Spaulding. Karis is a massage therapist at Spaulding.

Here is a photo of her from the Patriot Ledger which captures her compassionate care with a teen who was paralyzed and vowed to walk again:



She tells me all the time what an inspiration I am to her. Well she inspires me every week, twice a week to challenge myself and find my strength in new ways. In yesterday evening's class she had us "play hop scotch" in the pool and pivot doing squats. She coaxes us along as our heart rates rise and we are moving in every direction to nourish our neuromuscular and myofascial systems. She is tender and compassionate while also pushing everyone to their edge. She watches everyone in the pool to ensure that we are safe in the way we are doing the exercises. She knows my neurological challenges yet works with me to go beyond the challenges.

And she is challenging herself in new ways....

Karis had never run before. She started with a couch to 5K program and will work with the Race for Rehab team to train to go the distance on April 21, 2014. I know it won't be easy especially as she trains through the grueling New England winter. But I also know that with Karis' fiery Spirit, her background in dance and her joy of movement; her dedication to her patients at Spaulding along with her sense of humor (a must for every runner), she will go the distance.

And she is going to need your help in going the distance with fund raising. She started her fund raising page today and let's inspire her to log those miles as we donate those dollars... Here is the link to her fund raising page on Crowd Rise.

A week from Wednesday, I turn 60 years old. Spaulding is where I took the first steps on my healing journey seven years ago this month. Spaulding is where I am building strength and creating change moving beyond paralytic polio and trauma. The best gift you can give to me is to donate to Karis' fund raising page so that Spaulding can continue to do the phenomenal work they do in helping all who come through their doors to find their strength.

As I left class to go home, I stopped by the office to thank Karis for another great class. I smiled and said, repeat after me, "I am a runner." She smiled that beautiful smile of hers and said, "I am a runner."

Courage - January 5, 2009 from A Celebration of Life now available on Amazon
The fear of ice and snow and slush embedded in my soul
a training run in winter - the path to Being whole.
A winter scene - Jamaica Pond - a feast for eyes' delight
to witness nature's splendor and behold this glorious sight.
A leaf - a tiny dancer - skating free without a sound
God's breath directs her movements, as She guides her twirling 'round.
Families of ducks decide to walk or take a dip
a comedy of errors into icy water slip.
The branches now bejeweled with ice bend with loving Grace
sparkling diamonds' anchor water's surface hold in place.
God's hand a glove of glistening snow hugs rocks along the wall
their heads peek out reminding me I'm answering God's call.
A scene I'd never witness if I let my fear take hold
courage triumphed, steppin' out with footsteps sure and bold.
Knowing that the pain subsides and Spirit can prevail
the Marathon is beckoning - through those miles I shall sail.