I’ve got to be honest, after about eight hours of active labor, I watched as the anesthesiologist walked into the labor and delivery room on February 28 at 11:45 p.m. and I heralded him as a hero.
This man went to school for a number of years and learned how to make a delightful drug cocktail most people call the “epidural.” Laboring women call it many things, “heaven-sent,” or the “thank God.” I called it “the business.” After that shot started coursing through my veins, I was ready to meet my little boy without any threat of pain…and a bit slap-happy.
Was the anesthesiologist a hero? In that moment, he was. Still, I think I overuse the word hero. Heroes are those people who will stand in the way of a bullet for perfect strangers or sacrifice their lives for the lives of those they love. Heroes are everyday people who make uncomfortable situations as manageable as possible. I couldn’t let this Friday slip by without honoring some heroes that have surfaced this week.
1. John Servati: Swimming is one of those sports that never leaves you. I swam competitively (year-round) for six years. Once I graduated from college, I returned to my club team for a job coaching part-time. I love swimming. I love coaching even more. Although I was never good enough (or tall enough) for collegiate swimming, I will always ache to get back into the water. I will always carry the lessons that I learned while swimming with me: self-discipline, respect for others, and perseverance top the list.
John Servati embodied all that is good about swimming. He put the life of his girlfriend above his own and held a crumbling wall so that she could survive. He should be remembered for years to come and put on the walls of each natatorium as a reminder that there is good in this world. As Samwise Gamgees says, “it is worth fighting for.” Today, I salute you, John Servati, for giving every young man something to look up to; something to fight for.
2. Christopher and Jamie Lynn Sparkman: I feel this particular story has been unfairly silenced in the news as the lone gunman shot six at a metro-Atlanta FedEx facility. Christopher Sparkman was three minutes away from going home to his wife of a year when he stood in the way of Geddy Kramer from injuring anyone else in the facility. He was the most severely wounded and is expected to make a full recovery in the next nine months.
Jamie Lynn has to be the strongest woman I’ve heard of in the last week. Instead of celebrating a year of marriage at a nice restaurant, she will be celebrating the fact that she still gets to kiss her husband by his hospital bed. I know many of us will be praying for this couple as the next few months will be the toughest. Both of you are heroes and should be celebrated for your sacrifices.
3. Nurses at North Atlanta Pediatrics: I know it sounds silly, but I was an absolute wreck today walking into North Atlanta Pediatrics. I knew that my little boy would have to get a few shots and I was not at all prepared for watching him cry in pain. After a glowing check-up with my favorite doctor, Dr. Pip Spandorfer, Mary walked in to give B his first round of shots. She was so calm and comforting to both of us, calling B, “sweet love,” and swiftly getting his shots done. Afterwards, she allowed (indulged) my crying and patted me gently on the shoulder as I comforted B. I don’t know if there are better employees anywhere in the city. Nurses are truly the unsung heroes of the medical profession. There is something truly special about all of you…and today, I’m calling you heroes!
…
Now, to switch gears for the last two on Friday, I am going to talk a little bit about my journey back to endurance running.
4. Last week I hit an important milestone, capping my mileage at 15 for the week (11.5 of those pushing the Bob). I was pretty proud that, although incredibly slow, I am getting back to training mileage. I am currently looking for my first half marathon to run post-baby and perhaps thinking about stepping up my mileage a little bit…we will see because… This week I have only made it to 6…and I did all of those miles yesterday. I am going to try to make it to 12 (with 2 three mile runs to end the week). It is a continuous process of building mental endurance to make it through physically.
5. To motivate myself, I found a pair of Asics 2000 series on Amazon for under $70. I am insanely brand loyal to Asics as they have been the most supportive shoe for my high arches. If you’re looking for new running shoes or tri shoes, I would strongly suggest the Tri-Noosa series or gel nimbus. I will certainly review the 2000 series after breaking them in over the next few weeks.
Hope all of you have a great weekend!