Here’s the deal, folks - I’m going to do my best to make this brief!! Most of you know that I was overdosed by a medication error at my pharmacy several months ago and developed a severe syndrome as a result. What you don’t know (because I only found out this week) is that the physical trauma of the overdose caused an activation of an underlying autoimmune disorder which, if the overdose had never happened, may have left me alone my entire life.
How does this affect me? It’s in a very severe flare at the moment (reflected by bloodwork) without much idea when or if it will ever subside. There is the potential that it may get worse instead of better. Symptoms include but are not limited to: severe pain throughout my muscles and joints, exhausted beyond what I can explain, cognitive problems, muscle loss, severe systemic inflammation - to name a few.
BUT! I am a runner. This is not going to stop me so I’m the middle of all of this, I have decided to run my first race EVER - the Ugly Sweater 4 Miler to benefit the Manchester Animal Shelter. All registration fees go directly to the shelter! It’s an amazing cause!
Then - because I don’t do anything halfway - I started thinking about the Camp Fire wildfire victims in Northern California. It was only a little over a year ago when I witnessed firsthand the wildfires of Sonoma/Napa Counties CA in October 2017 and the devastation it caused those I love and many many others I don’t know but love anyway. That’s how I feel about the fire victims of the Camp Fires. Some of them have lost everything, including loved ones, pets, homes, businesses - countless others are unaccounted for. It takes a freaking village in a natural disaster and these victims should not be alone.
So what am I asking? I am asking you to sponsor me! A dollar amount of your choosing for every mile I can drag my body across and the proceeds will all go to United Way of Northern California.
This is so important to me. I want to run this race to say “f*ck you” to my diagnosis. I want to run this race to support little baby animals who need help here locally in Manchester. And I want to run this race bc I was so limited last year in what I could do to help those I was with and love during the fires but I know the need is so great again RIGHT NOW and the Camp Fire victims are going to need all the help they can get.
So much for keeping it short!
I appreciate any support you can give!
With love,
Stephanie
