readersdigest.co.in 113Drama In Real LifeT
en months after I died, and
eight months after leaving
Gaylord, I ran in the Superhero
Half Marathon in New Jersey. I
did it while using a walker, toting
a colostomy bag, and dressed as
Wonder Woman—cape and all! At the
finish line, I was greeted by Sean, who
smothered me in kisses.
Since then, the colostomy bag has
been removed, and I’ve completed
dozens of races, sans walker.
What I endured was a nightmare.
But every time I cross a finish line,
I think of the strangers who literally
gave of themselves. In my mind,
I see a diverse group of people—black,
white and brown, of all different ages
and backgrounds—all conspiring to
help a fellow human whom they’d
never know, for no reason other than
to save a stranger’s life.
My injury also made me realize just
how lucky I am to have Sean. In the
darkest moments of being locked in
the coma, his voice soothed me. It
does to this day. With each step, I am
gratitude in motion.And then there were the strang-
ers who had donated their life-giving
blood. In order for me to receive
those 78 units of blood, as well
as 25 bags of plasma and plate-
lets, more than 125 people had to
donate theirs.
Suddenly I felt a need to do some-
thing to honour them. I may not have
been able to walk yet, but I could,
from my rehab bed, organize a cycling
tour to raise money for adaptive bikes
for disabled athletes. We ended up
raising more than $10,000.
I then turned inwards, concentrat-
ing on my own recovery. One day
in December, Robyn, my physical
therapist, stood behind me holding
my catheter bag in one pocket and
my heart rate monitor in the other,
pushing my wheelchair after me as
I slowly inched step-by-step across
the floor with my walker. My back
wounds seeped from underneath my
dressings on to the floor, and my head
started to tingle with weakness. Down
I went, back into my wheelchair. I
heard a tender voice saying, “You did
it, Colleen ... You did it ... all the way
across the room!” I’d finally taken
more than a step or two.
Broke Detector
I’m well prepared for a cashless society.
Having kids already has me there.
@kentwgrahamFROM THE BOOK GRATITUDE IN MOTION BY COLLEEN KELLY
ALEXANDER. COPYRIGHT © 2018 BY COLLEEN KELLY ALEXANDER.
REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF CENTER STREET, NEW YORK, NY. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.