In August 2023, my father, Gabe, passed away unexpectedly at age 64 following a sudden cardiac arrest. My family is extremely fortunate that those of us who live out of town were able to travel home to Albany, NY, where he was hospitalized for one week. We were grateful that we did not have to worry about meeting our own basic needs for shelter, food, and transportation so we could focus on our family. This is not something that we took for granted. Any small act of kindness during that time and the weeks that followed was deeply appreciated.
Growing up, we were the family that always ran the Turkey Trot and other races on holidays. Distance running became more meaningful in my relationship with my father in early 2017 when he ran his first half marathon with me. In the 13 months prior, he had undergone a cardiac valve replacement surgery and two brain surgeries due to a subdural hematoma. The finish line of this race marked the end of his long road to recovery. I channel his dedication and perseverance while overcoming challenges in my own life, particularly since he passed last year. My cousin, Elizabeth Coyne Lauer, and I joined Team Harboring Hearts to run the 2024 New York City Marathon in my father's memory and our grandfather's, who also passed away prematurely due to heart problems.
