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    MARATHONDAD   27,455
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sometimes running heals a broken heart!!!!

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Sometimes my job is so hard and sometimes very cruel. For those who dont know I do recreation in a nursing home. My job is very rewarding and I meet some of the most amazing people.My place is the last place they live before they go to heaven. So I want to make sure their stay is full of fun and dignity. My residents are like fine wine they get better with age.But yesterday I lost 2 of my favorite ladies. One of them was my all time favorite. She was 102 and still very active let me repeat that 102 and still very active. So when you say u are too tired or too old take it from my senior. She would ask me everyday did you go for your run and I would say yes. She would tell me she did her laps on the floor. She was so proud of me and proud of the type of father I was becoming. my kids would visit her and I was so happy she got to my precious Abby before she passed. Yesterday I was talking to her before the end and ws holding her hand and she asked me did you get your run in today with a smirk on her face. Here is this lady on her death bed and she is worried about me. I held her hand until her final breath and cried so much. I was so mad I worked last night because I needed to grieve but I worked. But today I went for a 10km run and said goodbye to my ladies. I probally made people scared to run after watching me. I was running crying so hard and running so hard. But it felt so good to say goodbye and when I was done I looked up and said yes I did my run!!!!!
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  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MIMIDOT 7/21/2012 10:58AM

    What a great blog!!!! Sorry for your loss. You are very inspiring. Thank you. Your ladies are to have someone who cares for them as you do. God bless you.

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COLEYGIRL4 7/21/2012 10:12AM

    Oh my goodness you have brought tears to my eyes! This is so beautiful! You have such a kind heart MARATHONDAD. I wish there were more compassionate people like you in this world. I cannot imagine working in a field like this. I am a special education teacher & sometimes that job can be challenging, but this does not even compare. God bless you! Your ladies are now your guardian angels.

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MOM_VICKI 7/21/2012 10:11AM

    I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story/life with the rest of us.

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DR8561 7/21/2012 10:00AM

    What a great way to honor your ladies! emoticon to you and your family.

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GIRLINMOTION 7/21/2012 9:54AM

    I know what you are saying about your senior @ 102. I used to work with seniors too. At 102, Thelma's children couldn't keep up with her (they were in their 70's and going strong, but no match to their mother), and she was smart as a whip! (never quite sure how a whip is smart?). Another senior @ 99 learning how to use the computer and internet because she became her seniors club secretary. I could go on... But this does show you if you take care of yourself, you will have a good and healthy life to look forward to as you age.



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DMANN104 7/21/2012 9:51AM

    So sorry for your loss. She sounds like an amazing lady. Hats off to you for the wonderful job that you do. I'm sure that it is so rewarding but hard at times.



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PYNETREE 7/21/2012 9:19AM

    You are a blessing...and you recognise when you've been blessed! emoticon

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GARDENCHRIS 7/21/2012 8:43AM

    What a sweet story!

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PENOWOK 7/21/2012 8:14AM

    I, too have worked in SNF's and know the pain and joy it can bring. I have laughed and cried at the passings, and even once wrote a "dealing with Death" training for others working in SNF's. Your friends bodies are gone but their legacies continue and you are perpetuating them. Good for you!!

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HBLACK5 7/21/2012 8:10AM

    What an awesome lady! I am sorry for your loss and I am sure that she will be missed by many! I hope that I am 102 and still active some day.

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FARIS71 7/21/2012 8:08AM

    Oh my gosh you are awesome! God bless you!

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TONYVAND1 7/21/2012 8:05AM

  Great story

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GERMANIRISHGIRL 7/21/2012 7:57AM

    emoticon emoticon

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FLORIDASUN 7/21/2012 7:56AM

    Your title grabbed me as I was going through my friend feed. Why...because as a mother who has lost the most important part of her universe..our darling son Josh...I truly DO have a broken heart. emoticon I was thinking...maybe taking up running could heal it a little.

Your story made me cry and smile through my tears...how wonderful that we still have some true angels on this earth. emoticon You are truly one of them in a world gone mad for money and power.

I wish you would have worked at the care facility that my little momma attended. Sadly I never saw much tenderness from her caretakers and I used to cry all the way down to visit her and then cry harder all the way back home.

Our seniors are STILL wonderful and valuable people...it makes me mad, mad, mad that some of them are thrown away. This seems to be one realm of the universe that their money doesn't rank them as far as privilege.

It makes me feel so much better to know that you are on the case and that the people in your care get the tender concern that they deserve. emoticon

Thank you for being YOU...and if you don't mind I'm adding you as a friend..because YOU are my kind of people! emoticon emoticon

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FLASUN 7/21/2012 7:55AM

    Sorry to hear about your loss. Your SP friend LDRICHEL did a blog that was wonderful and just had to stop by and read your blog. Such a rewarding job and she was so lucky to have you by her side. Keep Running!!! emoticon emoticon emoticon

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SUSIQZER 7/21/2012 7:46AM

    How wonderful that you were with her at the end. What a lovely and inspiring -- active at 102!! -- lady.

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BECKYANNE1 7/21/2012 7:26AM

    emoticon It's hard to loose great friends like that. I know that when I was diagnosed with BC, walking and running really helped even though I would hae tears running down my face.

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IACTA_ALEA_EST 7/21/2012 6:38AM

    Yup. The last breath is a sacred thing to share. Im glad you were there for her.



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GRATEFULBOB 7/21/2012 6:24AM

    man i am about to cry . it is so great that you got to know someone like that , there are a few out there , running does help with alot of things .

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GRAMPIAN 7/21/2012 6:22AM

  emoticon

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NCSUE0514 7/21/2012 4:52AM

    I'm a nurse and have also been with patients I've cared for when they made their final journey. I've also been with family - my dad - as he died. It is heartbreaking on the one hand, but also one of the greatest acts of kindness we can do - to ensure someone doesn't die alone.

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FREEIN2013 7/21/2012 2:33AM

    You are a wonderful, caring person and I commend you for doing a most difficult job with such compassion. Your dear lady who cheered you on right to the end of her life will now be accompanying you on your runs - another angel to watch over you and your beautiful family.
Thank you for your honest sharing! My sincerest condolences for your loss.

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MASRITE 7/20/2012 10:11PM

    So sorry for your loss. She sounded like a very special lady. Nice that you dedicated your run to her. Hope you feel better soon!!

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DANA564 7/20/2012 9:03PM

    What a beautiful tribute. Thanks for what you do and touching so many lives!

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HEALTHY4ME 7/20/2012 8:37PM

    OMG Eddie I commend you so much.

So I want to make sure their stay is full of fun and dignity. My residents are like fine wine they get better with age

Barvo, I worked in long term care nursing homes as a CCCA ( certified continuing care assistant) I feel that to give these souls their dignity is one of the biggest andmost important and often forgotten things. I know that all the nursing homes I worked at were not staffed enough but did go by govt guidelines which in my province are 3.1 hrs per day per person. HOW SAD.

So for you to take the time and care to stay and sit with your lady is fantastic. I have sat with many that have passsed, one was only 51 and he had MS, that was hard as same age at the time. but yes have sat with elders too of course.

I also commend you for your tears and that they are cleansing to you.
I know that your lady saw you running for her special fluffy cloud up above us all. That is what I like to think as my mum passed 3 years ago and I like thinkng she can sit and watch my grandchildren that she never got to meet.

HUGs and many happy memories of your sweet special lady. You are one awesome young man.

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SUNNYSIDEUPMARY 7/20/2012 5:52PM

    {{{HUGS}}} for you!

You have inspired me to run today - I need to deal with my own feelings, and running just might be part of my healing.

Thank you for what you do for your job and for sharing here!

- Mary

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2WHEELER 7/20/2012 5:47PM

    I am sorry for your loss. It takes a very special person to be a good caregiver--you really are an angel. My mother was in a nursing home for several years and we were so grateful for the nurses and aids that spent time with her and made her days better.

Your blog is a good reminder that we can be active at any age and we shouldn't take our health for granted. Be sure to take care of yourself.

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LTTLREDCORVETTE 7/20/2012 5:03PM

    What a beautiful post. I'm sure what you do is very difficult at times (like this), but you are doing such a great service and making such a difference in these people's lives. It is wonderful.

And what a great image of the catharsis of running while grieving. This reminds me of the articles they do in Runner's World about 'why I run' and the people who turn to running in the wake of losing a loved one. So inspiring!

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DEE797 7/20/2012 4:49PM

    emoticon

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KBRADFORD88 7/20/2012 4:49PM

    Hey. Thanks for sharing your grief. I have cried so hard while running I did not think I'd could go on breathing, but I did. And it helped. Thank you for sharing all you have been through. It is so encouraging to all of us. emoticon

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JENNNY135 7/20/2012 4:30PM

    "Did you go for your run?", let that be your motto to honour her. Especially on those days when you don't feel like running. You are blessed by knowing those two ladies.

Thanks for sharing.

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KEIPONY 7/20/2012 4:29PM

    You are a beautiful person, you and your wife are wonderful partners. I'm sorry for your loss, but you probably made your ladies so happy in their end years. God bless you and your family.

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KAREN42BOYS 7/20/2012 4:04PM

    Oh, what a lovely gift you were both to each other. How wonderful that your runs will continue to tie her to you.

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PALMETTOGIRL22 7/20/2012 3:58PM

    Wow.....incredible. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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LINDAK25 7/20/2012 3:24PM

    When you care for someone, like you obviously do, they become part of your extended family and it makes it so hard to say goodbye. I'm sorry for your loss.

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BOILHAM 7/20/2012 3:14PM

    Sorry for your loss.

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DEBBY4576 7/20/2012 3:07PM

    As you know, you gave so much to those two elderly ladies. Your time, and your interest. If people would just take the time to talk to the elderly, they would learn so much. Sadly as the one post earlier stated, many have relatives nearby that don't even visit. Bless you and your splendid heart. You will go on to help many many others to love and die being loved. I'm glad you have your running to cleanse your body and mind after such emotional departures. Again bless you.

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TWINZMOM7 7/20/2012 2:42PM

  emoticon

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BERGBA7 7/20/2012 2:31PM

    So true!
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NATPLUMMER 7/20/2012 2:26PM

    emoticon

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JULIA1154 7/20/2012 2:13PM

  What a lovely tribute to those two women. It says volumes about who you are, too. I'd say all of you were fortunate to know each other, and each of you has enriched the others' lives. I'm really glad to know that there are people such as yourself working with the elderly.

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BUTTERFLY-1976 7/20/2012 2:13PM

    emoticon emoticon

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IFDEEVARUNS2 7/20/2012 2:10PM

    emoticon

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BEAUTY_WITHIN 7/20/2012 1:59PM

    That was wonderful! Thank you for sharing! And please know, I'm certain your caring is greatly appreciated! So many who work in that feild DON"T care. I'm sorry for your loss!

Comment edited on: 7/20/2012 2:06:53 PM

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SUECHRIS50 7/20/2012 1:51PM

    I am a volunteer at a nursing home and I can relate to your blog.I am an aide to so many loving souls and to see them "move on" just tears me up!I see alot of them that just need a friend and they have family living nearby.That just makes my blood boil!Alot of them would sit all day until I came along 15 years ago!I made them get up and have FUN!!!15 years later they are waiting on me!!!I adore you for what you are doing it is so rewarding for me.Knowing I had a part in their lives makes mine richer! emoticon SUSAN

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GOSPARK45 7/20/2012 1:50PM

    What a beautiful tribute to your wonderful friend! She will surely find peace with such a heartfelt send off. I'm sorry for your loss.

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GSEATON 7/20/2012 1:45PM

  Lovely blog post. I needed this today. Let's count our blessings.

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VCRUMP11 7/20/2012 1:44PM

    You're awesome! Thank you for posting, being an inspiration to me and others, and for loving and caring for our seniors the way you do. You are blessed!

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NHEMBERGER 7/20/2012 1:42PM

    Goosebumps! Loved the blog! I also work in a nursing home & it is very rewarding, but also has its share of challenges & sadness.
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BIRDLSLAURIE 7/20/2012 1:41PM

    What a wonderful way to honor those who passed while in your care. They were lucky to have you in their lives too. Take care of yourself and just think, you may have a new angel watching over you as you run.

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