Tomorrow is Matty's angelversary. For Matty's mom Sandy, his dad John and his two brother Chris and Zach, this marks the 6th anniversary of the day their beloved son and brother joined the other angels in heaven. Like anyone who has lost a loved one, this day comes with a lot of trepidation and anxiety. I feel for them each and every March 25th, and tomorrow will be no different. What I find remarkable about the family is their way of celebrating Matty's life and honoring his memory. And not just tomorrow, but all year. Since his angelversary falls on a Monday this year, they have things planned yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Typically, the final long run before the marathon always falls around this time of year, Jan Ross, the director of the running program and Jack Fultz, our coach and winner of the 1976 Boston Marathon, always make it a point to ask us to remember Matty and his family on our final long run, yesterday was no different. Jan asked Sandy if she wouldn't mind talking a little bit about Matty and sharing his story with the runners. Though there are many on the team who know of his story there are just as many first timers that don't. Below is what Sandy said:
"Hi my name is Sandy. You may have seen me and/or my husband John and oldest son, Chris, at water stops throughout your training.
This is my son, Matty. (This picture of Matty was on an easel next to Sandy.)
Matty was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was 4 years old. Throughout his 3 year battle, he endured so much more than just chemo, radiation, transfusions, etc. He had a liver transplant, 3 lung surgeries, 2 brain surgeries and his left arm was amputated 5 months before he passed away.
Jan asked me to say a few words this morning because since my husband and I ran with the team, the year after Matty passed, the team has continued to honor Matty on this weekend. His angelversary is Monday.
I just want to redirect your inspirational focus for today’s
run. Every mile you log, I’m sure that you have an inspiration behind it. I’m
guessing that the majority, if not all of you, are running for someone who’s
been touched by cancer. And because every run is most likely about that person,
for today’s run, I’d really love for you to dedicate it to the family members
of that person, most especially, the siblings.
I have three boys, Chris is my oldest, then Matty and
Zachary, my youngest. Chris was only 6 years old when Matty was diagnosed and
Zach was just 12 days old.
Although Chris and Zach never went bald, had a port accessed
or received a blood transfusion, they, too, suffered greatly. I always say that
cancer is a family journey. Chris and Zach missed out on so much. They grew up
too fast, they’ve seen too much and they’ve learned life’s hardest lesson at
too young of an age. I know I’m not the only one who smiles through the pain or
who’s heart aches with unimaginable pain.
I am so very proud of ALL 3 of my boys. And so, I ask you
today to please think about my boys and the strengths it takes Chris, Zach, my
husband and I just to get up each and every morning to acknowledge yet, another
day without Matty. I want to thank you all for doing your part in helping to imagine a world without cancer. On a more personal note, a big thanks to Steve Poirier, running for Matty again this year. And I think Steve has something very special to ask Christopher:"
Chris is now 15 years old. I thanked Chris for giving up a handful of his Saturday mornings by volunteering and giving back (acknowledging that not many kids his age would do this sort of thing). As another thank you, I asked him to join me at mile 25 and run the last 1.2 miles to the finish line with me. Chris wants to run the marathon when he's old enough and I'm sure this will be a great way to make sure that seed gets planted and takes root! He said yes. I asked him to please be patient with me on the 15th and told him I'd try not to keep him waiting too long !
On a side note, Sandy's speech left the runners, not only with something to think about, but with tears in their eyes. It was nice to see some runners come up to her and give her a hug! It was a beautiful moment filled with love and compassion.
Besides Sandy, John, Chris and Zach, Sandy's mom Charlene and her dad Dick also volunteered at the 4th water stop, which would have been mile 8 on the way out and mile 14 on the way back. Oh, and of course, "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey, was playing loud and clear for each and every 2,000 plus runners on the course, to hear! Talk about inspiration !!!
Since I want to dedicate this blog entry in Matty's memory, I've uploaded a handful of pictures of him and his family.
So, as each of you go about your business tomorrow, I would kindly ask you to keep John, Sandy, Chris & Zach in your thoughts and prayers. My hope is that Matty sends them lots of signs!
Training: Short and sweet, well, not so much yesterday's training run, but my update this week. I did, as most of my teammates, log in 22 miles yesterday. Personally, I am very happy about that, especially after only being able to run 10.75 miles last Saturday. We are still anxiously awaiting the warm/nicer weather to show up. Hopefully, we'll get the break we've been waiting for on race day. Yesterday was cold and very windy. In fact, the first 11 miles we ran into a strong head wind. Only at the turn around point, mile 11, did we have the wind to our backs, some of the time. However, no matter what each particular training run has presented, as far as obstacles and challenges goes, no obstacle or challenge will ever compare to what cancer patients go through. In honoring Sandy's request to keep the families in mind, I along with my running partners, was able to see this final training run to its completion.
This is a picture taken after each of us completed our 22 mile run yesterday. I think this picture speaks volumes of just how much we love being a part of DFMC. Smiles, smiles and more smiles !!!
Together, with each of us doing our part, we can make a difference, one mile at a time and one donation at a time !
We have entered into the tapering phase of training. Each week since December, we have slowly increased our weekly and long run mileage to get to where we are now. It is highly recommended that we ease back on both. The objective is to give our bodies the rest it needs to prepare for the marathon. So, while we will still run between now and April 15th, it won't be anywhere near the mileage we've been doing up until now.
Fundraising: I am very happy to announce that we had another great week with donations. We are now at $6,090, which is an increase of about $800 from just one week ago !! I continue to be humbled and grateful by the generosity so many have you shown, not just with the donations, but also with the encouragement and support as well. Even though the training is coming to a close, fundraising is still a priority. With the marathon just 21 days away now, I kindly ask those of you that have been waiting to consider making a donation. As a team, we are about half way towards our team goal of $4.6 million. I have no doubt that not only will I reach my goal, but that with every one's continued generosity, I will exceed it.
With gratitude and many inspired miles.....Steve
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