October 6, 2020
Every morning, I wake up and go for a run. It helps me set the tone for my day and keeps me grounded. Especially during the pandemic, with no races, no run club, and a lot of uncertainty, running has been my constant. In late August, I suffered a traumatic leg injury after an accident, and ended up undergoing surgery and spending a week in the hospital. I was devastated, but my doctors and surgeons reminded me how much worse it could have been. “You have your leg,” resonated with me the most.
When I was first introduced to ALTSO, I was so drawn to its mission because I couldn’t imagine not waking up to go for my morning run, and hoped to give CoolKids the gift of mobility that I so cherished. Losing my mobility, even temporarily, put so much more in perspective for me than just how much I loved to run. What was a missed week of work for me could have been a lifetime of unemployment or a lack of education for a child without access to medical care. My lengthy medical bill was largely covered by my insurance, while the typical ALTSO family may struggle to provide for basic needs, let alone a major medical expense.
I’m thrilled to say that I’ve just returned to running and that through this experience, I have gained a new sense of gratitude that sets the tone for my day. I’m grateful for my mobility and proud to be a part of ALTSO NextGen, helping bring mobility to our amazing Cool Kids. I encourage you to take a moment today and take inventory of the what is most important to you, big and small.
