Marie Fitzherbert Award for Perseverance
Marie Fitzherbert ran the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women for 27 consecutive years, never missing a race from 1977 to 2003. In 2003, even while undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer, she persevered to cross the finish line one last time. In honor of Marie’s determination and perseverance, this award singles out a runner each year for that same commitment to health, fitness, family, involvement in the community, and most importantly, perseverance through adversity. If you feel that your personal story qualifies you for the Marie Fitzherbert Award, please e-mail your special story to thp10k@conventures.com by Friday, September 12.
Below please find the story submitted by Lisa Conrad, the 2007 winner of the Marie Fitzherbert Award for Perseverance.
Dear Race Directors,
My name is Lisa Conrad. I will be 43 in September 2007. I don't consider myself a runner, but I like to run.
This will be my first time running the Tufts 10K race, but I would like to share my story. I don't feel my story warrants participation in the Marie Fitzherbert Award, but I am proud of what I have accomplished. I thank you for the opportunity to share with you my story.
On April 17, 2004, my world crashed in on me while vacationing in Orlando, Florida. I had a seizure and later a CAT scan, which detected a mass on the left side of my brain. To this day, I remember exactly how it was told to me and my family.
I have good news and bad news. The good news is, the CAT scan shows no damage done by the stroke. (at the time we had no idea what happened to me, was it a stroke? was it a seizure?) The doctor continued..... However, it did pick up a large mass on the left side of your brain. You have already been admitted. You are scheduled for an MRI and a doctor will be in to discuss what your options are. Do you have any questions?
Any questions? How about "were you absent the day bedside manner was discussed in med school?" Here's one for you "could you have asked my mother to take my 11 year old son out of the room so Mom and Dad could talk?" Or "could you double check and make sure that was MY cat scan?" I could go on. But, in reality, I sat there and said nothing. The ER doctor patted my leg and said:
"I am sorry to give you such grave news on your vacation. I wish you the best of luck."
He turned and left the room. I never saw him again. My mother took my son out of the room as quickly as she could. I looked at my husband and asked him "did he just tell me I have a brain tumor"? He didn't answer. He didn't have to. He had tears in his eyes.
Well, the doctor was true to his word. Several doctors visited me that afternoon. Most were optimistic, using words like "good brain tumor". I had my MRI the following morning and met with a Neurosurgeon. He confirmed that I had a Meningioma. It was quite large and it would need to come out. He wrote a handful of prescriptions and carefully explained all the medications to me. He told me it was safe to return to MA, but I would need to meet with a Neurosurgeon as soon as possible. So, on Tuesday, April 21, 2004 I was on a plane home to MA.
That week, I met with my now primary care physician. She sent me to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. There I met my Guardian Angel, Dr. Carlos David.
The hospital in Florida sent me home with a CD of my CAT scan and MRI. I never looked at it. I couldn't. Dr. David saw things differently. The first day I met him, he told me I needed to look at it. I needed to know what I was dealing with. Gosh! What a site. On film, the tumor looked like a lemon. In reality, it was the size of a tennis ball. There it was sitting on top of my head, in the back. How did I not know it was there? Meningiomas are slow growing. Dr. David feels I had this thing for at least 10 years. Needless to say, the appointment was overwhelming. Besides seeing the films for the first time, I will always remember Dr. David looking me in the eye and saying This is not going to kill you. WOW! Did I need to hear that!
At the end of our appointment, Dr. David urged me to get a second opinion. He did ask me for a favor. He asked if he could pencil me in for surgery. He had an opening May 18th. He told me to take the time to get a second and maybe a third opinion. If I decide to go with another surgeon, no problem. All I had to do is call his office and they would cross me off the list, no questions asked. He didn't care if I called the night before to cancel. It was okay with him. However, if I feel the fit is right with him, I won't lose any time.
I did try for second opinions. Every office I called had openings after the May18th date. I didn't want to wait. I went with Dr. David and on May 18, 2004 the tumor was 100% removed! I was lucky. I did have "a good brain tumor" and it was in a location that made it's removal pretty routine. At least that's what Dr. David told me.
Initially the recovery seemed unbearable. I awoke to find the right side of my body feeling as if it was asleep. But the "athlete" in me kicked in and within a matter days I was walking fine and home. Five weeks later I was back to work. Gosh! When I think back, I am truly blessed. I did have a good brain tumor and it was in a good location.
What prompted me to run, you might wonder. Well, before my diagnosis, I used to run in the mornings before work. After surgery I took a year off. I was still on meds that made me tired, but more importantly, I was angry at my body. I felt it betrayed me. I ate the right foods and I exercised on a regular basis and I got a brain tumor.
Well, 3 years later I am back to running. I run 20 - 25 miles a week. I weight train with a personal trainer 2 nights a week. And for fun, I take Step Aerobics on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, 6/23/2007 I ran a 5K with my 15 year old son. How cool is that? My run wasn't my best, but having my son by my side was amazing to me. On Monday, 6/25/2007 I had my 3rd MRI and met with Dr. David. Once again, he made me smile. The MRI was clean and I am good for another year. I need to be checked annually until I reach 5 years out. At that point, we might explore skipping a year.
The Tufts 10K run has always been in the back of my mind. I would ask "I wonder if"? Well, there's a song that says "what we put off for tomorrow, has now become today". That day is today!
Hopefully I will find a running partner to share this experience with me. Not to mention, 7,000 runners is quite intimidating. But if I don't, I know I won't be alone. I will be with 7,000 friends.
Thanks for letting me share!
Lisa Conrad
