WOW. What a day. One year ago this week, I graduated physical therapy. I knew I set the bar high when I said I wanted to complete a 5K. I never thought I would actually see the day when I could. I was still using a cane at night when I was tired, I was still unsteady when the lights were out... I hoped and prayed for a full recovery but a year ago, I was still waiting.
November 17, 2011 I will never forget that day-- I was diagnosed with an AVM at 10:30 at night.
February 23, 2012 is a date that will forever be branded in my mind-- that was the date of my first brain surgery. That was the date of the complication.
March 8, 2012 is a date that will forever be special to me-- that was the day I finally got discharged from the hospital after my two week stay.
April 24, 2012 was the date that I went an entire day without using my walker (even at night) for the first time-- I only needed my cane.
September 4, 2012 I finally was at a point where physical therapy could do no more for me and I was on my own for finishing my unrealistic 100% recovery.
April 26, 2013 was my (hopefully) last brain surgery.
Now I can add September 8, 2013. The day I achieved my seemingly impossible goal.
I still feel like it was a dream. I'm sure in the last year I did walk 3.1 miles (5K) at some point... but to be in a 5K official race, surrounded by friends and family who have supported me all this way... just seemed so distant to me, like it could never happen because the doctors said it couldn't. I keep thinking back to when the Doctor showed me and my parents the scan of my brain, showing us where the infarction was... they said if I recovered to 70-80% I should consider myself lucky. A huge part of my cerebellum essentially died and I would not be able to get back to my old self. Now here I am, September 8, 2013, I still have my walker in my room (as a coat rack), and here I am, participating in a 5K. How surreal.
My team was called The Brain-iacs. I had shirts made up for us that said our team name on the front and "Becau5e I Kan" on the back (lined up appropriately to say 5K). That is the very literal answer I would give people who asked why I wanted to do the Color Run... Why?? Because I can! I am no longer handicapped. I am no longer less than 100% of myself. I am no longer suffering debilitating headaches. I can do a 5K. Because I can. And I WILL!
My team was five of my close friends and my two favorite sisters. My parents waited at finish line for us and off we went. At every kilometer they threw powder paint at us-- it was awesome! I had so much fun talking and laughing with all of my teammates in between stations and then through the stations we had a blast making sure no one came out with any white left on their shirts.
We walked for part of the 5K and jogged/ran for part of the 5K. But when we were approaching the finish line, it was very important to me that I run-- so I did, followed by my entire team, RUNNING! We all ran for the last part of the 5K right through the finish line where people were throwing paint on each other. I was so overcome with emotion, I was proud, shocked, thankful, overwhelmed, humbled, along with 1000 other feelings I cannot even begin to describe. I couldn't handle all of these racing (no pun intended) emotions, so I started crying. I cried as I ran through the finish line, as I hugged each team member, thanking them for being there with me. The whole thing was just so... surreal.
I still can't believe it actually happened. I proved the neurosurgeons, neurologists, nurses, doctors and therapists wrong. I RAN in a 5K!! I made more than 100% recovery... I am at 110% and for that, will always remember, September 8, 2013.
From the bottom of my heart I thank each of you for your constant support since the initial diagnosis in 2011. My strength is fueled by your support and I can never adequately thank you all for believing in me!!
