Help Michele raise money

I am so excited to be running Falmouth with Team CPN this year! Last year I had to drop out due to hip pain that turned out to be a femoral neck fracture! I now have three long screws in my femoral neck and am so thrilled to be running again!  CPN has been extremely important to me as both a pediatric chaplain and as a parent. I am the proud Mama of Mateo and Johnny.  Mateo is a happy, hard working, young man who loves school and pranking his teachers.  He turned 18 years old in March. Mateo is medically complex and has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, LGS. Johnny is 14 and is the picture of health. Johnny graduated middle school with high honors and two awards, one is Spanish and one in Civics.  He has a passion for trains, especially the MBTA, and is a talented musician. Johnny plays the guitar and piano and is now able to work at his favorite rock climbing gym.  Mateo was hospitalized from Dec. 30, 2024 to July 15, 2025, and needed to get a tracheostomy on Jan. 10, 2025. The good news is that Mateo is home and returned to school the day after discharge. It has been a very difficult time with blessings along the way. 

I am running for CPN in celebration of Mateo's determination to recover from all he has been through this year, including respiratory failure, an unstageable pressure sore and muscle wasting, after being confined to a bed for months. Mateo went from being able to walk only 4-5 steps, after being in the ICU for 5 months, to breaking his all time walking record in his gait trainer with 1010 steps!

To make this race even more meaningful, I will also be running in honor of Éabha Grace and her family. I had the privilege of meeting Éabha's amazing mother Aisling recently and she shared the following about her beloved daughter: 

"My husband Ben and I are the proud parents of two beautiful children, daughter Éabha and son Pádraig. Éabha Grace was a beautiful, curious, creative soul with the kindest heart. At just 10 years old, she was diagnosed with a devastating, incurable brain cancer (DMG). Our family made the decision early on that we would not let her diagnosis define her or destroy us. We committed to making her life as full and joyful as possible, making all the lasting memories that could be made. Éabha lived 711 fierce and beautiful days after diagnosis, and not one of those days were taken for granted. Courageous Parents Network was a vital part of our journey, offering guidance, resources, and connection at a time when we felt completely lost. Their support helped us navigate the impossible and served as a reminder that we weren't alone. 

Our family is deeply honored that Michele is running in honor of Éabha. Her commitment to carrying Éabha’s name forward with such love and strength means more to us than words can express. On 8/17/25 we race for Éabha Grace ❤️"

Please join me in supporting CPN to continue their work to bring education, accompaniment, and hope to families with a child with a life threatening and chronic illness.  

Wishing you all health and happiness! 

Michele