Dear Team,
I was planning to share a mission moment yesterday at the end of
practice, but as some of you may have heard I had my first spill
on the bike, so I didn’t get to finish the second loop and
I want to share my story by email. But first I just want to say
that this is an incredible team. Everyone was so amazing and
supportive and took such good care of me, and of others
who’ve taken tumbles this season. I feel blessed to get to
know such a wonderful and inspiring group of people. I hurt my
bum (cracked sacrum) but am otherwise ok- just a few
scratches.I’m not sure how long it will be before
I’m back in the saddle again, but I can’t wait.
I’ve wanted to do the PV loop for years and it could not
have been a more perfect clear day for it. What a truly
beautiful ride!
Accidents happen, in cars, on bikes, and sometimes walking down
the stairs (my friend broke her hip on the cement stairs at her
apartment). I want to emphasize how really critical safety is,
especially helmets. If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I
don’t think I would be writing this email now, so please
take it seriously. And watch the road! Whatever speed you are
going when your bike hits something is the speed you will hit
the ground with.
Ok, on to my story. I did my first marathon last year (in Palos
Verdes actually on some of the same roads as yesterday) and it
was a big deal to me since marching band in HS was about as
athletic as I’d ever been. But I did it on my own and I
felt like it was a wasted opportunity-I could have been
fundraising for an important cause. I was thinking it would be
nice to do a triathlon (I’d had enough of running) and
thought of doing TNT since I’d lost friends and family to
Leukemia, and then I met someone from last year’s
Ironteam and got inspired. But having never done a triathlon, I
thought about it for months and kept going back and forth. I was
still on the fence when my mom got diagnosed with Lymphoma. On
October 19th she had successful surgery to remove her very
enlarged spleen (7 lbs 15 oz! Like a baby!). That weekend I
signed up for the team, deciding it would be a great way to give
back. It was a major surgery with a long recovery (in the
hospital 10 days and home resting for weeks) and then she
started treatments. The big news I wanted to share, is that last
week her oncologist said she is officially cancer free!!! She
had her last treatment and now they’ll just check up on
her in the future. And just in time for her birthday today! I
can’t think of a better present. We have so much to
celebrate and be thankful for.
So next time you are getting in that pool when its freezing out,
or running in the rain, or pushing up a tough grade on that
bike, just remember what its all about- LLS had a part in making
it possible for me to share this exquisite Sunday with my mom.
Life is fragile, and to wake up healthy is such an incredible
gift. We all forget this, we get caught up in life’s
little bumps and annoyances. But there are crisp clear morning
rides with snow covered mountains in the distance and hugs and
soup from friends and family to remind us.
“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact
gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to
touch Heaven.”
- J. A. Gaertner
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a
gift. That’s why its called the present.” :-)
Warmly,
Nurit
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