Demented leprechaun, posting her best time, wearing memorial ribbon for dad.
It's my annual essay to the organizers of the Fifth Third River Bank Run in hopes of scoring a free entry to the race. Whereas this one is less amusing than previous years, it is probably more heartfelt:
The past couple years, I’ve submitted some witty stories for the River Bank Run in hopes to make you laugh.
This isn’t one of those years.
I was diagnosed with diabetes in January, 2012. My dad had been diagnosed with the condition at 30; I managed to put it off until 42. A man with an appetite for fruit pie and treats, he never managed to control his sugar, and his health problems continued to accumulate: diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain.
And then, cancer.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in January 2009, and then leukemia a few months later. He fought bravely through his treatments, holding onto hope that with every meeting with his oncologist, he would be told he was cancer-free.
Meanwhile, his threshold for what was considered healthy kept getting lower, and lower, and lower.
A worrywart, from the moment of my diagnosis, he harped on me to take care of my health and do it right. His theory was all his health problems started with the diabetes and his neglect in managing it. He too was an athlete, matching my running, swimming and skating with golf, softball and bowling. The athletics weren’t enough; I had to change my diet. And I have.
Since my diagnosis, to date, I have lost 26 pounds and 4 dress sizes. I’ve competed in two races, two YMCA endurance challenges and the US Figure Skating Adult Championships.
But my dad never got to see this; we lost him to cancer on April. I did run the River Bank Run in his honor.
I’m taking care of me for you dad.
Jerry Planeta, 8/18/42 – 4/16/12
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Update: I found out this week that they liked my essay and I won another race entry.
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