And Now a Word About Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

On my way to Aquatics Therapy Class this morning with Karis, I bumped into Suzanne Showstack Adams. From my soon to be released memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility":

I met Suzanne Showstack, now Adams in the fall of 2007. I told her that I was going to have a book of poetry published and wanted to donate a portion of the proceeds to Spaulding. We met for lunch at Legal Seafood in Chestnut Hill. I was still sporting my short leg brace and bright blue cane but was feeling much better since I had quit my job at the VA and took the summer to begin the healing process. I could experience Suzanne’s warmth and compassion through our email exchanges scheduling our luncheon. She took notes during our lunch intrigued by my healing journey. I told her how important it was for me to give back to Spaulding.



Suzanne shared my story in hospital newsletters. We thought that I was a remarkable recovery back then...Suzanne and I went on to run the 2009 Boston Marathon together as part of the Race for Rehab team



and we were together on 4/15/13 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.



Suzanne and I hadn't seen each other since Tom and I took a tour of the new facility the week after the bombings. As she greeted Tom and me she said, "I was wondering when I was going to see you. I know you're here all the time." I noticed how we hugged each other just a little bit tighter ...

We reminisced and caught up and then I went off to Aquatics and she off to her work in the Development Office.

Spaulding has been a part of my life since October 2006 when I made that phone call to the International Rehabilitation Center for Polio at Spaulding. Whenever I needed anything related to care and management of being a polio survivor, Dr. Darren Rosenberg and the team of therapists have been available to me.

While taking the tour of the new Charlestown Facility, I saw the Aquatics Therapy Center


and took their flyer about their community classes. Every week, twice a week, since last Fall, I have been finding and building my strength in the healing waters of the beautiful Aquatics Therapy Center. It has been life changing for me as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma and is the perfect complement to my running and my biweekly sessions with Joseph. I can feel for the first time in my 7+ years of my healing odyssey that I am on sure footing climbing to higher and higher ground:



This beautiful plaque on the grounds of Spaulding says:

Rarely does the path to recovery follow a straight line
Like a tidal stream, it bends and twists
It surges and trickles
It ebbs and flows.
That is why rehabilitative care must be fluid too.
Spaulding takes an approach to patient care that is flexible, highly personal and informed by a deep understanding that while every patient strives to reach higher ground, no two rehabilitative journeys are ever alike.

As wonderful as I feel and as well as I am doing, I do live with a spinal cord injury. Karis knows how to guide me and everyone in her classes, to challenge myself yet not over do. She provides me with support, encouragement, reminds me of how strong I am yet listens and is so understanding when I come face to face with my challenges.

Karis was at the Mandarin although we didn't know each other at the time. When I heard she was going to run the Boston Marathon even though she had never run a day in her life, I told her that I would support her run in any way I could. She is running for Spaulding Rehab Hospital to raise money so that patients' lives and the lives of their families can be healed after whatever life throws their way.

I know how Spaulding helps me to find higher and higher ground in my healing journey through the Aquatics Therapy program. It's a comfort to know that there are staff at the ready to support me as I age as a survivor of paralytic polio.

Please join us this Thursday at the Limelight Stage and Studios for Karis' Karaoke for a Kause with all proceeds benefiting Spaulding Rehab Hospital.

With your minimum $20 donation, you'll be entered to win an autographed Tom Brady Jersey and as second prize, a Joy of Sox Movie DVD.

And everyone comes away a winner. The owner of Jacob Wirth Restaurant in Boston has generously donated as many gift certificates as people who come out to Sing Boston Strong. One of the gift certificates is for $50, there are four for $25 and the rest are for $10. If 80 people show up 77 get half their money back, 4 get their donation back and one comes out ahead. And I must say, Jacob Wirth's has the most amazing sweet potato fries I have ever had in my life!

And don't worry if you're too shy to step up to the mic, we'll have plenty of people singing strong.

Cash bar and appetizers.

Silent Auction Items:

Autographed books by Bob and Lee Woodruff

Pair of Celtics Tickets - face value $375 to 3/9 game against Pistons

Gift certificate to Marathon Sports and The Joy of Sox Movie DVD

Gift certificate to Stapleton Floral Design

Cape Getaway package

If you are unable to join us, with a minimum donation of $35, we'll enter you in the drawing for the Tom Brady autographed jersey to be held on 2/20/14.

Read Karis' story on her fund raising page and make your donation today. In the comments section write "Karaoke."

Every day I give thanks for the care I have received and continue to receive at Spaulding. I bless the family that donated money for the Aquatics Therapy Center and all who have donated to support this place of healing. As Karis so eloquently states on her fund raising page:

Please consider making a donation to support my fundraising efforts as I work to raise $5,000 to benefit Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Every dollar counts and will directly benefit the facility that gave 33 bombing survivors, and many others, their lives back. I am running the Boston Marathon to honor those survivors and memorialize those who lost their lives last April.


We ARE Boston Strong and will be Singing Boston Strong on Thursday. Won't you join us?

#word

Look For The Helpers - Keep Coming Back To Your Breath

Today's blog post was going to be filled with photos from the reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for Spaulding Rehab's Race for Rehab marathon team. We were having a reunion of sorts for the 2009 Boston Marathon team, waiting for three of the runners from the '09 team to cross the finish line, bidding on Silent Auction items, enjoying wonderful food and great company. One of the runners from our team, Greg Gordon was there with his wife and two children. We reunited with the wife of TK who is one of Greg's best friends and was part of the Race for Rehab team.

I first met Suzanne Showstack, now Suzanne Adams in November of 2007. We met for lunch at Legal Seafood - I sporting a leg brace and my bright blue cane. I wanted to talk with her about donating a portion of the proceeds from my first book of inspirational poetry, "New World Greetings:Inspirational Poetry and Musings For A New World." Suzanne was part of the '09 Race for Rehab Team and she was so excited Tom and I were there to celebrate this year's team.

Suzanne was at command central tracking runners and so proud of the fact she went 'high tech' no longer needing the white board and marker to track the runners progress as they approached the finish line. There was such excitement that two women on the team "BQ'ed" qualified for Boston.

Tom and I were watching the 'board' and tracking my dear friend and fellow yoga teacher training graduate Jerel Calzo considering when we should go outside to cheer him coming down Boylston Street when we heard a loud boom. We froze for a moment and then there was a second explosion and smoke. Greg went to the window. "It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy," he said. "People are down." Tom handed me my jacket and said let's go.

When we got home, I found this on Facebook


I thought about all the helpers we encountered yesterday both seen and unseen. Tom and I were incredibly blessed. Although there were two rooms packed with people waiting for the Race for Rehab team to come, we were blessed to be with Greg who came directly over to us letting us know what happened. The staff at the Mandarin was absolutely amazing leading us out an evacuation route that took us to safety in the back of the hotel away from where the explosions occurred. There were some people who were panicking and hysterical. A helper appeared out of nowhere and said "Don't panic. We're okay."

As we waited inside a hotel alcove shortly after the explosions happened, my brain was thinking, "We don't want to just rush out and into a situation of danger." I took a moment to pause and breathe. I felt safe and protected as I completely surrendered to the moment.

I trusted our wonderful hotel helpers and when we arrived outside, Tom and I got our bearings knowing we had to walk away. Our car was parked over 3 miles down the road. Miraculously, I was able to walk at a very fast pace Emergency vehicles passed us. I felt as though I was an extra in a movie scene yet I knew this was all too real. Having to walk at a fast pace was an incredible blessing. It allowed us to discharge the tension that happens in a traumatic situation.

We watched some of the news. When the news began to show graphic images, we turned it off. We learned that the Mandarin Oriental had been evacuated and went into lockdown. Copley Square was being treated as a crime scene. I breathed so much love out into the world. Tom and I cried together.

At about 8 pm I was physically and emotionally exhausted. After checking in with everyone I knew who was involved with the marathon, I said prayers of gratitude that they were all safe. I had a hot cup of peppermint tea and then got into bed. I was deeply grateful for the outpouring of emails and facebook messages from my friends who always think of me on Marathon Monday. I am grateful for a community of such love and light.

My thoughts began to race with what if's and reliving the sounds and smells I experienced in the moments following the explosions. I heard William Jackson's voice - my meditation teacher who reminds us, "Keep coming back to your breath. Notice where your thoughts are and keep focusing on your breath. The in breath and the out breath. Feel the breath around your nostrils." My mind quieted as I realized those thoughts do not serve me. Only loves serves me. I allowed tears to quietly stream down my face gathering all the love that is in my heart to help us all heal. We are all helpers. We are all healers. We are all wounded. Our hearts are broken. Let love flow out to bring healing to all.

Yesterday morning before we left to watch the marathon, I had this compelling feeling to change the title of my blog from Welcome to a New World to Healing, Hope and Possibility. I felt I wanted to focus on the message that regardless of experiencing horrific life experiences, there is always healing, hope and possibility. Little did I know that we would need that message now more than ever! So look for the helpers - look for the stories of heroes and triumph and goodness and love and self sacrifice. Be the helper when you can but above all, keep coming back to your breath!



Harmony from Seasons of the Soul now available on Amazon

Motif in a minor key
sings the song of a wounded soul
strain on the heart strings
isolation and fear
believing she is all alone.

Love notes
passed around
in the kula

hands and hearts joined together
a chorus of jubilation
voices from the Divine
rise
blending in perfect harmony
Om.

From my heart to yours
With total love and deepest gratitude,
Mary

MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY AND FREE!

Why I Love Heartbreak Hill

I've written a lot of blogs about running on Heartbreak Hill.

I incorporated Heartbreak Hill into the poems I wrote on the road to the 2009 Boston Marathon

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.

I stood many years as a spectator atop Heartbreak Hill cheering on Boston Marathon runners. I never dreamed that one day I would be among them. And two years ago, after running the Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K and I felt myself experiencing another relapse of post polio syndrome symptoms, I thought for sure my running days were over.

It was cold yesterday and windy (not as cold and windy as today I might add). I knew I needed to get in one more training run before Thanksgiving Day's Feaster Five Road Race.

I was planning on an easy flat 3.1 miles somewhere but I knew I needed to get out there and really challenge myself. I needed to open it up and just go!

The Spaulding Race for Rehab 2014 fund raising website is up and many of my friends are running on the team this year in large part because of the Boston Marathon bombings. I was with Greg Gordon, my dear friend and teammate from the 2009 Race for Rehab team as the bombs went off. He is running along with fellow 2009 teammates TK and Suzanne Adams. Suzanne and I first met in 2007, and have been friends ever since. We were with Suzanne when the bombs went off. Michelle Scribner-MacLean who I met at the 2008 pre race pasta dinner and with whom I have stayed in touch through social media is running. Her brother Mark was going to run in 2008 but an injury flared right before the gun went off. When I met Michelle, she was training to run her first half marathon.

As I read their stories on their fund raising pages, in addition to being moved to donate, I was moved to get out there and really get moving.

Thanks to Ellen Gabriel, manager at the Brookline Marathon Sports store, we had our winter gear ready to go.

We decided to run Heartbreak from Center Street to Chestnut Street. There is something magical and mystical about the sun in Winter on Heartbreak Hill. The trees were mostly barren and the sky was a brilliant blue. Despite the cold air, the sun's warmth could still be felt as somehow it is always felt on Heartbreak Hill.

There was an infectious energy on the hills yesterday. It's as though everyone is preparing in one way or another for the 2014 Boston Marathon. There are 148 days to go until April 21st as noted on my friends' fund raising pages. Everyone was greeting each other yesterday. There was a sense of camaraderie and togetherness - an unspoken bond of #bostonstrong. I felt a powerful emotional connection to my beloved coach and trainer, Domenick D'Amico from the 2009 Boston Marathon.

I felt the best I have felt in my body out on a training run and my statistics from Nike+ reflected that. 4.03 miles with an average pace of 14'8". I wasn't pushing myself or my body. I moved in my body, breathing hard and pouring sweat. I looked in the mirror after we finished our run and were back in the warm car. I had a glow about me.

I took a hot epsom salts bath when I got home followed by a hot shower. But despite my best efforts, I experienced muscle spasms in my neck, upper back and shoulders. I was having difficulty with cervical spine mobility. My legs were of course sore but felt wonderful.

But even though I was in a lot of discomfort, I was not worried about what was happening in my body. I know that I am blessed with two remarkably dedicated practitioners who would help me to work out whatever was happening in my body.

I went to bed at 9:00pm and woke up at 8:00am feeling wonderfully refreshed and recharged. (What a difference from waking up in the morning still feeling fatigued and foggy for years as I suffered with the residuals of polio and trauma stuck in my body.)

My body feels strong and healthy. I feel ready for my 2nd race after a two year running hiatus on Thursday. I have so much to be thankful for this year. Among my blessings, I have rekindled my love of Heartbreak Hill and can be a part of an incredible community that continues to heal and be #bostonstrong.

The 2009 Spaulding Race for Rehab Team at the starting line


A sendoff from Domenick as we head out for the last training run before the 2009 Boston Marathon


Two weeks ago posing with the Johnny Kelley statue on Heartbreak Hill


Even though my heart along with the City of Boston and the world was broken on April 15, 2013, there was something powerfully healing about healing my heart during yesterday's Heartbreak Hill training run.

"It's a Fantastic Sport"

What a magical weekend in Hyannis. It will take me awhile to wrap my head and heart around all that happened this weekend in Hyannis. I hope I can convey some of the magic to you through my blog.

Tom and I left early Saturday morning for the Hyannis Resort and Convention Center. Our room was ready at 10:00am and we were able to get in a workout in the pool before lunch. We went to the Expo where I had the chance to talk with Boston's very own Bill Rodgers. I shared my story with him as he shared excerpts from his book, "Marathon Man" with me. He signed my book with, "We are lifetime runners. Let's run forever!" Bill Rodgers

As Tom took our photo, he gently placed his hand on my back and said to me, "Wow. Boston. You've got that mental toughness you know. You are one strong woman..."



After the Expo we drove the course for the half marathon and stopped at the JFK Memorial. Green grass, beautiful blue sky and ocean in mid-February:



At the pre race pasta dinner, we were treated to a feast of inspiration, laughter and tears by Bill Rodgers and Dick Beardsley.



Dick talked briefly about the day he had his duel in the sun with Alberto Salazar and his relationship with Bill Rodgers. He focused on the outpouring of emotional and financial support he received after a near fatal farm accident followed by his battle with addiction to prescription pain killers. Dick has a beautiful, raw heart and yes, real runners and men do cry! And laugh, and regale stories of races of days gone by.

Dick said that running is a fantastic sport and that many of the stories we runners tell have nothing to do with our races on the road but of the bonds that we as a running community share.

It is a fantastic sport and on Sunday, as I met up with my fellow alumni Race for Rehab teammates before their team photo:



Suzanne Showstack Adams, who I've known since 2007 and who I ran with in 2009 on the Race for Rehab team was also marveling at what a fantastic sport it is. She commented on where else can you be on the same course as elite runners? In what other sport do you get to stand side by side with the most celebrated men's distance runner in history.

And I would like to add, in what other sport could I, a polio survivor, cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon and be embraced and supported by a community of runners?



And in what other sport do you get to have breakfast with Dick Beardsley who, for a brief moment in the early 1980's became the most famous runner in the world - by losing a race. But more about that in tomorrow's blog!