Celebrating Ten Years of Running: It All Began With a Poem!

Tom posted on Facebook that he still gets moved every time he reads the first poem I wrote. He put a link to the poem on my website.

Running the Race
Early summer 1959 my kindergarten year
Everyone around me filled with nervous fear
Despite the Salk vaccine hope polio would disappear
The polio virus crept right up and knocked me in the rear.
Dancing all around the gym feeling free just like a bird
I dropped to the ground just like a stone
and no one said a word.
The pain it was so searing-the diagnosis even worse
"It's polio" the doctor said...he was abrupt and terse.
Called one of the 'lucky ones' I had a 'mild case'
But with the other athletes I could never keep their pace.
Miss Holly physical therapist,
curly hair and a warm, broad smile
It tempered the pain of being apart - to walk I'd take awhile.

I always wore those 'special' shoes
the kids they poked and teased
With no support and much abuse
with childhood I wasn't pleased.
But put nose to the grindstone and learned all that I could
I couldn't kick a ball but my grades were always good.
Years went by and no more thought to polio did I give
I accepted the limp and everything else
and decided my life I would live.
But symptoms of weakness and muscle pain did grow
I kept a stoic face hoping no one else would know.

Life no longer was my own I struggled through each day
Suffered in silence, isolated from friends-
trying to keep depression at bay.
And with the grace of glorious God my world it opened wide
I discovered there was a Post Polio team
and they were on my side.

Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do,
Resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.
Celebrated my body- creaks, groans and need for a brace
While in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race.
Sought out paths for healing and my spirit flew free
For the first time in life, I could truly be me.
The chains are gone and possibilities abound
I'm a tree with my roots planted firmly in ground.
I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine
So much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.
After all these years I can join the loving human race
I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace.

It was the dark night of my mind, body and soul. Two months prior to putting pen to paper and writing this poem, I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome deemed to be a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine Standards. Gosh I hope in these past 12 years the medical establishment has had time to rethink their thoughts about what happens to polio survivors in their later years. I was told to quit my award winning job as a VA social worker and to prepare to spend the rest of my life in wheelchair.

I was scared - very scared...then I got angry...and then I got still and asked for Divine Guidance.

It was a cold dark day in February of 2007. I felt a stirring in my soul as I was surrounded by teachings of Wayne Dyer, Lisa Nichols, Bernie Siegel and Tony Robbins. Lisa Nichols suggested in her newsletter to express gratitude in advance of your prayers being answered. A practice that goes back to Jesus and has been suggested by many wonderful modern day healers and teachers. The prompt was, "I am so happy and grateful now that I can..." and the word "create" ended the sentence for me.

Create? Create what? My twins were grown and I was told my career was over. What was left to create?

I took a pen to paper but then the words flowed so fast I had to get on my laptop.

My heart opened and I cried.

My curiosity was piqued. Why was I writing a poem about running a race when I was in a leg brace using a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.

I felt unwell for about 10 years leading up to the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. For the first time in 10 years I felt joy, hope and possibility. I had felt trapped in my body and trapped in my life despite having an award winning and very rewarding career at the VA up until I started to feel unwell. A door to my future opened after I wrote "Running the Race".

It was as though a spigot was turned on in my soul and poems flowed out of me in which I imagined myself healthy, whole and healed running unencumbered and free releasing the shackles of my past rife with violence from my childhood and the effects of having contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5.

I had never run a day in my life but in my mind's eye I saw myself as a runner. I never owned a pair of running shoes and the "closest" I ever got to the sport of running was being a spectator for the Boston Marathon.

In February of 2008, the personal trainer I hired after being discharged from Spaulding Rehab's Outpatient Clinic, asked me for my next health and fitness goals. My initial health and fitness goals were to be able to get off of a low seat without assistance, diversify my workouts and see if I could get a little stronger.

From "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility":
“Well I want to feel free in my body. I want to dance. I want to be able to walk outside and feel unencumbered when I take a walk.”

Janine wrote feverishly and we worked out a plan. She gathered up her belongings and had her hand on the door knob.

“Wait. I have one more goal.”

Janine stopped and turned around.

“I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. I know they have a Race for Rehab team and I want to do it next year.”

So began my journey as a runner.



What a blessing to celebrate a decade of running. And to think that it all began with a poem!

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available on Amazon.


Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***

A Tapestry of Love: Running with Big Hearts

From Scott Middlemiss: Today marks five years since my beautiful boy and best friend has been gone. Five years since I last talked with him, laughed with him, sang a Beatles sing with him, hugged him. I can’t believe he has been gone almost as long as he was alive.

I am forever grateful for the time I did have with him. He taught me so much about love, how to smile through pain, and how to live life to its fullest. He reminded us all to make every day a “best day ever!” I am forever grateful for all he did for me, to make me a better person. And, I am so fortunate to have the memories in this video. I love you, Joe, and miss you more and more every day.

From Andrea Ketcham Walsh: Joseph Scott Middlemiss, you will forever be in our hearts!!! We love you to the moon and back! I promise to forever work hard on your foundation with the most amazing board of directors to spread your message. You may not be with us physically but you are most definitely wrapping your arms around us from heaven and guiding us to do the best work we can to honor you. I hope we make you proud. I love you, Joey❤️❤️

Joseph Scott Middlemiss was only 6 years old when he died as a result of pediatric cardiomyopathy and co-existing other conditions that compromised his physical body but those physical challenges could not touch his Spirit. Below is a sample of what people posted on Facebook on Saturday and Sunday to remember Joey and to share how he touched our lives.

Your legacy of kindness has forever changed our community - and beyond. We are all so blessed to have known you - and to have your amazing parents, sister and brother carrying on your mission of love. You will never be forgotten.

I cannot believe it has been 5 years... what an impact this little guy has had on so many during and after his 6 earthly years. We can’t see Joseph, but he sure is everywhere, continuing to inspire others to choose kind and spread love.

Today would be a great day to perform a little act of kindness in Joseph’s name.

I’ve never had the fortunate opportunity to meet you Joe, yet you have had a tremendously positive and significant impact on my life, along with countless others. I am grateful every day to know your family. They exude courage and strength, love and kindness, beyond imaginary belief. We are all better humans for knowing your brother Jack and your sister Grace. We are all better humans for knowing your parents Kate and Scott. We are all better humans for knowing you and/or knowing your legacy. Thank you for being an incredibly awesome human and impacting this world more in 6 years than most people do in decades. Thank you for inspiring us all to be greater.
Pay it forward...always....
My first 3.33 of my 8 mile run was dedicated for you Joe, along with your brave and inspiring siblings Jack and Grace. ❤️❤️❤️

Scott Middlemiss was my third grade teacher and one of the most inspirational people I have ever seen. I still remember him showing us Joes ultrasound pictures in class and the shear joy on his face as he did so. The amount of love and kindness this man and his wife have put into the world after such a tragic event is truly and utterly amazing. To anyone who reads this to please take a second and look at what this man has accomplished because I am blown away by it all.

Tom and I knew of the Middlemiss Family when we attended the Runner's World Classic Weekend managed by Dave and DMSE Sports. We followed them on Facebook but it wasn't until Joey orchestrated a meeting in Bermuda at the starting line of the Bermuda Half Marathon this year that we became involved in this community woven together by a tapestry of love.

Linda and Brad Gilbreth were wearing their Team Big Heart race shirts. We struck up a conversation and took these photos for them:


Here are the Gilbreths coming into the finish line at the Superhero 5K:


We've been attending their events, forging beautiful friendships with members of Team Big Heart and been blessed to be encircled in this community where all you need is love (and a pair of running shoes)!

On Saturday, a community of big hearted adults and children of all ages gathered to run The Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation's 5th Annual Superhero 5K.

From Dave McGillivray, Race Director and dear friend of the Middlemiss Family:
It was an honor and privilege to help manage the 5th Middlemiss Big Heart 5K race and Celebrity Mile today in Dracut, MA. No better family than the Middlemiss Family and their entire JMBHF team. Thanks to all the local celebrities who were kind and gracious enough to participate in the Celebrity Mile. I owe each and every one of them a debt of gratitude. And, lastly, thanks to my special pal, Jack Middlemiss, for surprising me by re-gifting my World Marathon Challenge medals back to me after I gave them all to him back in March. But here is the secret, the race director of the WMC (Richard Donovan) heard that I gave my medals to Jack so he sent me another set. Here they are in my drawer as I always felt there would be a special home for this set someday, too. Well, here is our little secret everyone...I’m going to now give this second set back to Jack – just don’t tell him!!! His challenge was 1,000 times more inspiring and courageous than mine and he deserves these more than I do. He is a heart warrior, something very soon I want to be known as, too. And, to add to the excitement for me, my 12-year-old son, Luke, finished 15th OVERALL!
During the National Anthem with Scott and Superhero Jack - The Incredibles:


The Celebrity Mile celebrities:


Returning Dave's medals:


Gracie and Jack with the top 3 ladies finishers:


The start/finish line:


Zoe Mayotte is a heart warrior who met the Middlemiss Family through their shared journey at Boston Childrens Hospital. Team Zoe was crowned the champion of the biggest superteam last year and this year Zoe's mom, Karen was determined to keep that title! Tom and I joined Team Zoe and recruited runner friends to join us.


She ran the quarter mile kids fun run:


Although Tom and I were unable to attend the race in person, we did a virtual 5K in our neighborhood:


Karen and Marie sent us our Team Zoe t shirts that arrived right after we finished our run:


Our dear running friends Kathleen & Tom joined Team Zoe. Kathleen is a heart warrior and a retired teacher. She marveled at the event including music performed out on the course by a very talented young man. Our inspirational friend Larry Gamst also joined Team Zoe and took 3rd in his Age Group declaring he'd be back again next year.


Just 3 months ago, Larry had a heart attack and had 5 stents put in!

The members of Team Big Heart touched Tom's and my heart when we told them that we couldn't attend on Saturday. The past two weeks with our daughter who suffers from severe mental illness drained us. We knew we did not have the energy to participate in the festivities even though we would have been surrounded by love once we arrived. Instead, we received an outpouring of love and prayers for our journey. I was moved to tears when Jennifer sent this photo saying that "I made sure you'd be there."


Kate said, "This is beyond beautiful!!! Exactly what the empty heart emblem was designed for!"

Jennifer had a joy filled day at the 5K as did so many! Her son ran in the kids fun run and her nephew ran in the 5K supporting her little guy in his race:


She even captured this special moment with "her girl" Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon!


Kate shared this picture of a superhero who ran the race in 2016 and on Saturday. Miracles and love were all around:


Here's a great photo of the Incredibles with Michael, a member of Team Big Heart:


Two superheroes - Jack Fultz winner of the Run for the Hoses Boston Marathon and Jack are captured in this All You Need is Love moment:


Joy, love and community:



Scott shared this moment from last year's 5K as part of the commemoration of Joseph's passing:
September 23, 2017

So, today has been a day filled with mixed emotions. But, we continue to be blessed by the love and support of so many beautiful and wonderful people who continue to love Joseph and help us share his legacy of love and kindness. So, thank you all.

I have been looking through all the amazing pictures. And, this one just jumped out at me. I have gone back to look at it multiple times. There is so much inspiration, kindness, and beauty in this picture.

The other day, we asked our friend Rachel {who lives with cerebral palsy} to design a race that she wanted to participate in, to finish. This was her special race. And, she did such an amazing job and made the turn for the finish line with a big smile on her face and as strong as ever. This is Rachel crossing the finish line of HER race. And, it was amazing...topped off by the incredible Dick Hoyt presenting Rachel with a special "Superhero" medal.

This alone is amazing and beautiful. But, it is not the whole story that this picture tells. There is another runner in the picture. #378. His name is Danforth Sullivan. He was coming in to finish the 5K first overall at some ridiculously fast pace. No doubt he was going to finish under 18 minutes, something I cannot even fully comprehend. He was finishing up strong and then came upon Rachel finishing her race. So he stopped, slowed down, and let her finish, have her moment, losing valuable seconds to his own personal finish. And, where some may have been upset or tried to finish ahead of Rachel, he slowed down to cheer her on. And finished with a smile...celebrating this special moment.

I didn't know that this happened until I saw the picture. Come to find out that Danforth is a member of Team Zoe, the biggest super team. Thank you, Danforth Sullivan, for being a special part of this amazing moment. Joseph was definitely smiling down at this exact moment. I can feel it.


As people were sharing photos from Saturday's race, races from past years and sentiments about Joseph and the Middlemiss family, I was in awe of the connections made through one little boy and the 6 years he spent physically in this world. From his NICU nurse to his teachers to people connected to Scott and Kate and the ripples of connections made through Team Big Heart and their Foundation, the thread that connects us all is love ... because in Truth all you need is love love is all you need to meet any challenge that life presents to us.

After a weekend of love, superheroes, running with big hearts, kindness and miracles, Joseph lit up the evening sky for us all to see:


We will always remember you Joseph Scott Middlemiss and your legacy of love, laughter and making every day the best day ever!

From my heart to yours,
To your health and wellness,
Mary

My healing journey is going to be featured in David R. Hamilton's soon to be released book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body." It's available for pre-order on Amazon.

Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):