Miracles do happen!

Dear Lena.
I do not...by nature...get emotional, I'm more intense and stoic.  Right now I cannot see the keyboard or computer screen thru my tears!!   No words can describe how very proud I am of someone I've never met!!  I am so very overwhelmed at what YOU accomplished....YOU made it happen, YOU have shown that it is possible to do ANYTHING one puts their mind to, no matter what the odds or where one starts out.  I printed your post and I am going to laminate it and frame it...and put it where I can see it daily.  Dear Dear Lena....THANK YOU!!
You glow thru your writing....I send my heartmost Congratulations and Thanks and Best Wishes for continued success...
Kim in Fontana
PS..May I suggest you send your post/writing to Readers Digest!!!   They use these writings in their inspirational or "of personal interest" columns.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Kim.  Your post brought tears to my eyes.  It is amazing how strangers can touch one another.  Thank you! 

L

YAY LENA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You rock girl!!!!  I am so happy to be able to call you my friend.  Now remember what I told you when we were somewhere around mile 23....It's your DUTY to pay it forward and go find someone to replace you next year.  LOL!!!!

Again....I am so proud of you and it was so great to be able to run along you and your mom for 7 miles at the end.  It has sure motivated me to get back on track!

Love ya!!!!!  :-)

Kirsten,
UGGGGGGGGGGGG!  I am already thinking about doing it again next year!  What the HELL is wrong with me? 
But I will pay it forward don't you worry!  Thanks for being you! 

Lena,

If you move up this way, you can pay it forward with me!  I want so much to try to run.  I've had asthma all my life and when I met with the pulmonologist during my pre-op visit, I expressed my desire to try running.  He assured me that I would be able to do anything, and he said meds have improved so dramatically that there would be no issues with the asthma.  So you and Steve and I can run the Avenue of the Giants marathon in the beautiful Redwoods!  I haven't talked to him yet to see how he did with his kids, and I owe him a call tonight.  I'll call you soon too, just to say hi.

Hugs and love,
Barb

The only thing more amazing than your story was being there to watch you cross finish line!! Congratulations!! I knew you could do it!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Kevin!  You are just too smooth!  LOL!  Thanks it was so great seeing you at the end.  You pushed me to the finish. 
Thank you for believing in me and telling me to push myself and to believe in myself. 

Thank you! 

Thanks to this post I am at work crying. This is truly saying something as my partner will tell you I never cry. I don't know you but I am proud of you!!!! I'm so happy for you that I can't even explain it. Congratulations and I hope you remember this feeling forever!

Lena, First off... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! Second... there isn't a dry eye in the house after reading this post. You have done yourself proud, as well as the OH CALI BOARD...We are all very proud of you. You have shown the world how to work this amazing tool called WLS.
You are my new hero.
Thank you for your inspiration!!

HUGS
JOY

You ARE AMAZING!   I have been crying since paragraph two!!  What an inspiring story.  Thank you for sharing!!