This is Deanna.

Sometimes you meet someone and you know that you have to hear their story. I met a woman like that and asked her to please write her story because I knew others needed to hear it. This is the email she sent me yesterday.

Dear Jen,
I tell people about you all the time. I tell them how Terri and I got put on different flights. I tell them how the plane was half empty but we were in the same row. I pray for the lady that was in between us and hope God gave her an extra dose of peace when she went to the funeral to celebrate the life of her family member. I tell people what a neat and inspirational woman you are and how your face lights up when you get excited and you tell your story about how running keeps the depression away. I tell them Terri and I got separated for a reason because God knew I needed to meet you. And then I tell them you asked me to write for your blog. When they ask me why I haven’t done it yet, I just shrug.
Is it because I am scared someone will read my story and think it is dumb? Is it because once you put it in writing, it is like finally accepting something you only talk about when you are comfortable? I don’t know. I don’t know what to put in and what to leave out, so I just wrote and I will let you edit to make it right.

Well, this is what she wrote. And I didn’t change a word. Here is her story.

I grew up in a sedentary family. I come from a short, round genetic background. When I was nine years old, I had retina detachments in both eyes. I wasn’t allowed to play in gym and I was told to be careful not to hit my head at recess. I was always one of the overweight kids. It isn’t surprising since my family “wasn’t athletic” and I was viewed as a liability at school if I went blind because of gym. So I read books.

When I was older, my mom told me that the doctors predicted I would be completely blind by the time I was sixteen. I just celebrated my 37th birthday. Like every birthday, I am a little overwhelmed and very grateful that God has given me another year of vision. Although I had a second retina detachment in college and the surgery was not successful, I am grateful for what I can see out of my left eye. Every day is a blessing! Sometimes we forget that.

Since I don’t see well enough to drive, I was with my parents one day. My mom told me they needed to stop for milk before they dropped me off at my house. They pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and we got out of the car. My mom told me she needed the motorized cart. Even though she had both knees and both hips replaced several years prior, I told her she could make it to the milk and back. She could not make it to the milk.

I called my oldest sister to tell her mom couldn’t make it to the milk. Arthritis runs in the family. I can’t remember my maternal grandmother walking without crutches or a walker. Most of the time, I remember her in a wheelchair. She had joint replacements as well. My sister, who also has fibromyalgia, has had a hard time getting out of bed in the winter for quite some time. I told my sister that I need to make sure I can always make it to the milk.

In my effort to remain active, I decided it was time to try the couch to 5k training program. I convinced three ladies to train for my first 5k. After all, why not make a party out of it and go to Disney World? Unfortunately, I hurt my knee. I still walked the 5k even though I couldn’t bend my left knee. When I finally went to the orthopedic doctor and got x-rays, he informed me I had “severe arthritis” in both knees and he didn’t know how I could walk without pain. I remembered that I need to be able to make it to the milk!

When God made me, he may have given me a little less vision, but he dropped in a double helping of spite. My #1 motivator is someone telling me I can’t do something. The sheer drive to prove them wrong is enough to keep me going. Well, that and a shiny race medal! So when that doctor told me I shouldn’t be running “at my weight” anyway, I new I needed to find a way.

My friend, Terri, points out every crack, hole, patch of uneven pavement, and reflector in the street that I am getting too close to tripping over. My Fleet Feet running group keeps me from getting hit by cars during our training runs. So with the help of “My Seeing Eye Terri” and an occasional “tune up” on my knees with the cold laser therapy for the arthritis, I keep trying.

I keep trying because one day I might not be able to see to run. I keep trying because I want to encourage someone that might not have faith in themselves. I keep trying because I need to prove to myself that I can do it. I keep trying because I always need to be able to make it to the milk.

Deanna included in her email to me the video below. It’s a beautiful tribute to so much that is good about running.

Not that you should need it after that, but Happy Running. And thank you, Deanna. I’m so very blessed to have met you.

Jen