Do we all have heroines/heroes? Is there someone that makes us stop in our tracks and say, ‘Wow, I would so love to be like her/him/they/them.’ Do we know people that in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength?

We’ve read about the Olympic athletes and their incredible feats of strength or their courageous decisions to put health over competition. We marvel at individuals that achieve goals that seem impossible. Kathyrn Martin running a 6:01.46 mile at the age of 65 or Louis Zamparini, setting USC mile record of 4:08.3, getting drafted, served as a bombardier, his plane crashed, survived in a raft for 47 days, only to be captured by the Japanese. After two years of a horrific experience, Louis came home. Those feats seem truly heroic.

As a runner, I am drawn to these stories and to so many more that prove that despite obstacles, people can really accomplish anything they put their minds to.

Then the Fourth of July came, and our lives were turned upside down. The weekend started with a blood curdling scream, one that makes the hair on your arm stand up. Pain and crying throughout the weekend continued, so we hustled to the doctor. From there we were sent to urgent care for x-rays. Three hours later, the doctor says surgery is eminent because Tanaya has a right femoral neck fracture of the hip joint. He’s called an ambulance to take us to the hospital.

Seventeen long hours in ER where I tried to sleep on a gurney bed rail, met with doctors at 2 and 3 am, blocked Tanaya’s ears from a violent patient and tried to keep Tanaya as comfortable as possible. Throughout the night she held my hand, was always calm and only asked if after surgery could she have shrimp.

Three long post-surgery months later and we’re still not out of the woods. Tanaya is healing well, although bored because she’s not able to play basketball yet. She continues to maintain a herculean positive outlook and a resolve that would challenge any endurance athlete.

And me? How am I doing? Hanging in there, training is tough, but this year Tanaya showed me grace and resolve under pressure, so I rise to the challenge to do what I love, which is run. Double bonus is I’m running for Tanaya. Triple bonus, my daughter Sequoya has agreed to join me in a virtual run this November in conjunction with Team CdLS to raise funds in honor of Tanaya for CdLS Foundation.

Finally, to answer the original question posed, Do I have a heroine/hero? Do I know someone that in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, and strength? Yes, indeed and her name is Tanaya and all her peers in the special needs community.

Please consider donating to the CdLS Foundation here https://pages.donately.com/cdlsfoundation/campaign/cmp_df7bb93e159a


Ava aka mom to local heroine Tanaya