So yesterday I found myself at home needing the biggest box of Kleenex. It was a bit of a bummer day as it was a Sunday and Chris was working, Mom & Dad are out of town and I couldn't get in touch with any friends. I had stopped by to see Britt and the twins which was very nice....however little did I know what my afternoon would bring me.
I sat down with lunch and saw that the Paralympics were on NBC and thought, oh perfect! I would love that. However, it seems as though emotionally I was a bit overwhelmed. A lot of therapists (or anyone in healthcare) will tell you that we disassociate ourselves from patients. We "check out baggage" at the door and cannot allow the sadness and reality sink in, otherwise we would all walk around crying all day long!
There were many stories that hit me.....but it was not the story but the moment above that really hit hard. The runner above is Marlon Shirley, a below knee amputee who was trying to set a record for 3 back to back gold medals in 3 different Paralympics. Just after the race started Marlon crashed to the ground (they later said he ruptured his Achilles tendon). He grasped his strong leg.....and after several minutes on the ground.....he got up. Hobbling at best, he limped his way to the finish line, crossing the line and again collapsing to the track to cry and attend to his injury.
Suddenly I thought about being a runner, knowing what "not finishing" means......I watched this person finish, limping, with a prosthetic limb.....and I knew that he was yet another reason why iRun.
Last but not least was the story of Marin Morrison. This one had my on the floor in a puddle, literally.
www.marinlove.com
She is also from Washington......
Her story reminded me that every day, every breath is truly a gift.
2 comments:
I know exactly what you mean here. I am close to tears every time I see this special olympics commercial! And I remember the story about Marin, one of the local news stations (Komo 4) did a several part story on her. And yes, I cried. Funny, on my private diary I just wrote about my inner *closet* sap that only my husband knows about! From childhood movies to very touching stories.
I would of been crying right along with you. Every time I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition I cry my eyes out. My girls always ask "mom, why you crying?" :o)
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