Walking the path of SMA with Ella has shown us much. One aspect that we speak of often is the unending support we receive from so many. When speaking or writing of "the many" we will often say, "family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers". I'd like to speak of one particular "stranger"; whom, by the way, is no longer a stranger.
Her name is Katherine and she lives in Pennsylvania. We had never met Katherine. We never knew her at all. She, likewise, never knew us.
Katherine is a runner. She runs all kinds of races. She trains, from what I can tell, constantly. She braves all sorts of weather and terrain. To run as she does requires commitment, determination, stamina, and a passion for it.
We met Katherine through Facebook. You see, there is a group of people, a rather large group, of people who are runners. The unique part of their running is that they "run for others"...they run for those who cannot. We heard of this group through a friend and decided to check it out. We "signed up" Ella to have a runner.
Katherine is Ella's runner.
Katherine runs for Ella. She posts pictures, stats, notes, encouragement, and anecdotes for us to read to Ella. She will often send Ella her medals, running numbers, and other articles from the race day!
Ella loves Katherine. Whenever I tell her, "Ella, your runner, Katherine, has left a note on the phone." her eyes light up and her little body shakes in excitement. I read the entry and show the pictures. I ask Ella what she wants me to write to Katherine. Invariably she responds, "I love you, Katherine!"...and so I write it, along with some of Ella's tidbits.
Katherine is no longer a stranger. She is now part of ELLAwareness for SMA. In fact, she now posts SMA facts and shares Ella's story through many of her entries, thus spreading the word to whomever reads her posts.
Katherine may be many miles from us; she may have once been a "stranger" to our world; yet now, in such a short time, she has run her way into our lives...and we are thrilled to have her "running for Ella"...
Thank you Katherine...
