Man over comes battle with cancer to run the Sly Fox Half Marathon
We live in Bartlett and I had been running 5-days a week since 1980. Like many of us I began running at the age of 25 to stay in shape and to maintain my weight. Over the years I've run many 10K's, a couple of marathons but the half was one of my favorite runs. Running a half is a great workout and I could still walk the next day. In June 2003 we ran the scenic Fifth Third Bank Half. The St. Charles course was enjoyable and the party afterward was fun so I was looking for another St. Charles run. The Sly Fox run looks like a good mix for me.
My running endurance drastically declined leading up to being diagnosed with cancer in 2012. Prior to the diagnoses cardiac and pulmonary stress tests showed I was in great shape for my age but I was always feeling weak and short of breath. A blood test and bone marrow biopsy confirmed acute myeloid leukemia. Chemotherapy treatments (40-days) at Advocate Sherman Hospital followed by chemo and stem cell transplant (100-days) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital erased the cancer and gave me a healthy immune system. My clinical teams were incredible and I owe my life to my stem cell donor sister and Dr. Jessica Altman at Northwestern.
From my room at Northwestern one could watch runners jogging along Lake Michigan. At times I thought I might never again enter a run into my running log. Following the transplant getting back to running was a goal for getting back to feeling somewhat normal - running was a part of me. In February 2015 just enough strength and endurance returned allowing me to run three quarters of a mile on the treadmill. By May our daughter and I ran the local Bartlett Apple Blossom 10K. Looking back; thanks to my wife, family, neighbors and many friends I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people I know. The struggles and outcomes of fellow cancer patients give me inspiration.
I'm looking forward to the Sly Fox and hope to make it annual run.
Run with Tom at the Verizon Sly Fox half marathon and 10k on April 23, 2016 http://www.slyfoxhalf.com .