Returing to My Roots

I am beyond thrilled to be back on Tedy's Team running the 2024 New York City Marathon in honor of my mom, dad, and all my stroke heroes!

It has been a few years since I have toed a marathon wearing the singlet of an organization that has been such a huge part of my life.  In 2012 I was introduced to Tedy's Team through an alum who had run in honor of his daughter.  When he told me about Tedy's Team, I knew I had to learn more and figure out how to get involved.  Stroke had completely altered the path of my life and continues to be a part of my story and who I am.

My stroke story starts in 1998 during my junior year of high school when my dad suffered a cerebral hemmhorage leaving him severely physically and mentally disabled.  My mother was his primary care giver for the first five years following his stroke.  She worked tirelessly to get him the best rehabilitation that she could find.  For five years she drove him in and out of Boston and Worcester to numerous therapists and specialists to try to get my dad back to his old self.  Unfortunately, he was left with aphasia and very limited mobility.

In 2000 I decided to move to Colorado to attend college.  While visiting me for Thanksgiving in 2002, my mother had an aneurism that ruptured.  Due to my father's disabilities, I was the one left to make the health care decisions on behalf of my mother.  During the many conversations we had with doctors and surgeons, one surgeon promised me that she would run marathons if he could clamp the aneurism.  I had to have faith that this doctor could work miracles.  We agreed to the surgery, but unfortunately my mother did not come out of it as we had hoped.  After months in rehab, both in Denver and in Massachusetts, she was left partially paralyzed, aphasic, and on a feeding tube.  Unfortunately she was never able to return home and had to be cared for in a skilled nursing facility.

Once my mother fell sick, life was me and my dad.  I moved back home and became a caregiver for him.  Dad and I were roomies for sixteen years.  Toward the end of the sixteeen years, dad was starting to have a more difficult time getting around and started to need more full time care.  At that point we managed to get my mom and dad into the same skilled nursing facility and even better then now share a room.

My mom and dad are still with us today over twenty years after their strokes.  My mom has been on hospice since October of last year, but she continues to defy all odds.

Having the opportunity to run on Tedy's Team to raise awareness and money for stroke means the world to me.  Through the years I have had many friends and family that have also been directly affected by stroke making my list of stroke heroes very extensive.

Please consider a donation in honor of my mom and dad or in honor of your stroke hero!  I continue my mission to raise awareness and to run marathons for Tedy's Team to prevent, treat, and beat stroke!

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The mission of Tedy's Team is to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease while supporting survivors on their journey, giving them a means for a comeback!

Tedy's Team was originally founded in 2005, when Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots suffered a stroke shortly after winning his 3rd Super Bowl and just days after returning from his first Pro Bowl. to learn more about who we are, please see our website, www.tedysteam.org.

We are honored to be part of the Official Charity Program of the TCS NYC Marathon for 2023.

New York Road Runners has allowed us to utilize their platform to elevate the awareness of the warning signs of stroke, which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for: 

• Balance Difficulties
• Eyesight Changes
• Face Drooping
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Difficulties - and if you notice any of those warning signs, it's...
• TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.

Should you ever have any questions about your donation, please reach out to Elizabeth@TedysTeam.org.

Donations to Tedy's Team are non-refundable and fully tax deductible.