Here we go again! I am excited to be running the 2025 Boston Marathon for Boston Children's Hospital on the Miles for Miracles team. I have been a Child Life Specialist at BCH on the Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit (PIMCU) for a year and a half. In my role, I support patients and families through the challenges of hospitalization with education, preparation, and normalization. During my time on the PIMCU, I have worked with incredibly resilient patients and families, including my patient partner, Owen, who I will be running 26.2 miles for in April.
Meet Owen.
"Owen is our 19 month old super hero. After spending his first year of life in Boston Children's NICU and PIMCU, he is finally home with us, exploring all the wonders of the world around him. He's overcome incredible odds so far. The five major surgeries he endured in the first few months of life have given him a fighting chance, and he continues to grow and thrive with each new day.
Owen is one of 22 patients worldwide with his rare genetic condition. He is the first to be prenatally diagnosed, and the doctors, nurses, and staff at Boston Children's Hospital were integral to his survival and continue to provide him with ongoing, life changing, interventions.
His gregarious spirit, resilience, and happiness bring so much hope and strength to those around him. Owen is the true embodiment of the miracles that happen at Boston Children's Hospital, and we are forever grateful for all that our beloved caregivers have done for us."
SISU
Last year, I wore Owen's middle name, Sisu, on my back. Sisu is a Finnish word, meaning a special strength and determination to continue to overcome adversity. I plan on carrying Sisu with me again, as a reminder of the unwavering resilience that Owen and patients just like him embody everyday.
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