At the end of September 2022, I sat at the bedside of our neighbor and friend, Laura, holding her hand and sharing tears together. Sunshine was streaming through the hospital windows, a reminder of the world outside, and a stark contrast to the heaviness of the last year. Laura had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in October 2021 at 35 years old, and that day would be returning home in hospice care to be with her loving husband and two young sons.

As we sat together that morning, we focused on the power of choices. Laura and her family were choosing to bring her home. It might seem like a small stake in the ground in the midst of a devastating prognosis, but that Laura could go home, open her windows and breathe in the fresh air she hadn’t been able to during her month-long hospital stint, granted her peace and dignity in what otherwise felt like a powerless chapter in her life. Later that evening, I received a simple message from her: “front window open”, and I couldn’t help but smile. Over the next two months, Laura and her family worked intimately with hospice, navigating all aspects of end-of-life care, and on December 2, 2022, Laura died peacefully at home.

In the midst of a tragic diagnosis and life limiting disease, Laura continued to live with joy, hope and courage. Hospice met her in this place, providing support and care for her and her family, and Laura continued to be able to choose her path forward.

For the last year, I have pondered how best to honor Laura’s legacy. I watch her two boys growing up across the street from us, now 5 and 7, always running and playing, active until they undoubtedly must collapse in bed at night. As an avid runner, I am envious of their abundant energy, a quality that doesn’t seem to translate the same as you age. When I am able to sit in the quiet moments at home, I think about Laura, her grace, compassion, and how even as she battled cancer, she would think of others.

On April 21, 2024, I will be running the London Marathon, raising funds to support Birmingham Hospice. Their mission is “to enable more people from all communities to access the care of their choice at the end of life”. Through access to hospice and palliative care services, individuals and their families are able to receive much needed support to die with dignity and ultimately face a life limiting diagnosis with the power to choose. I am honored to be running for Birmingham Hospice, and more so, I am honored to run for Laura.

If you feel so compelled to support me in this endeavor to honor Laura’s memory and raise needed funds for Birmingham Hospice, you can click “Give Now” and submit a contribution. Thank you for your generous support of this cause so close to my heart.

Gratefully,

Maureen