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| My grandmother and me when I was about six months |
I was born in 1975, in the Dominican Republic, about five years after my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 65. She lived to age 94. We missed her before she was gone.
There were 29 long
years of learning... to accept, to adapt, to cope, to ask for help, to love, to
tolerate, to be patient. My mother is one of five sisters, each
with their own families, who all took turns to help take care of my
grandmother. Three days a week my brothers and I went from school to
grandma's house since my mother would already be there. We did our
homework and waited for the aunt that would sleep over that night or for my dad
to pick us up since my mother would be the one sleeping over. There
were weddings, graduations, births and a number of family occassions where
my grandmother sat in her wheelchair not recognizing that she
was the pillar of such a wonderful family.
In 1989, my family moved to New York due to my father's assignment with the U.S. Embassy, the move added another level of complication with my mother traveling back a few times each year to help, to make decisions on finances etc. Her physical health started to deteriorate slowly until she passed away in 1999.
In 2006, my aunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It was devastating for the entire family.
I started running in 2008, inspired by two friends who thought I was missing out (their words: "You live right next to Central Park and you've never run!") and to lose weight (something I had tried to do many times before without success). One of the two friends ran the NYC marathon in 2010, I cheered her on and it was very inspiring. I lost 52 pounds in four months, then I ran a half marathon. I said to myself that if I ever thought I could run a marathon I would do it to raise funds for Alzheimer's.
In 1989, my family moved to New York due to my father's assignment with the U.S. Embassy, the move added another level of complication with my mother traveling back a few times each year to help, to make decisions on finances etc. Her physical health started to deteriorate slowly until she passed away in 1999.
In 2006, my aunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It was devastating for the entire family.
I started running in 2008, inspired by two friends who thought I was missing out (their words: "You live right next to Central Park and you've never run!") and to lose weight (something I had tried to do many times before without success). One of the two friends ran the NYC marathon in 2010, I cheered her on and it was very inspiring. I lost 52 pounds in four months, then I ran a half marathon. I said to myself that if I ever thought I could run a marathon I would do it to raise funds for Alzheimer's.
This year I ran a
half marathon only six weeks after delivering my second baby hoping to lose the
baby weight. A few weeks later, my husband got an email from
R2R titled Need a Bib? and he forwarded the email to me but didn't think I
would take it seriously (I had mentioned running a marathon before
but I had just had a baby) - how could I take it seriously? I
have a demanding job at a hedge fund, two kids and have no time.
I am extremely excited that I can honor my grandmother and support my aunt and relatives by running for this cause and appreciate the fact that the NY chapter is allowing me to do this with the team. I am very grateful that my mother is healthy and can enjoy the time with my two kids (Abigail & Maxwell) and would hope, that one day, other families can enjoy their family time free of Alzheimer's.
I am extremely excited that I can honor my grandmother and support my aunt and relatives by running for this cause and appreciate the fact that the NY chapter is allowing me to do this with the team. I am very grateful that my mother is healthy and can enjoy the time with my two kids (Abigail & Maxwell) and would hope, that one day, other families can enjoy their family time free of Alzheimer's.
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