Hello Friends and Family,
Hope everyone is enjoying this crazy Fall weather. As I train for my 13th marathon, my 10th NYC marathon, I have decided once again to support a great cause and a dear friend. I met Amy a few years ago and was instantly inspired by her story. I have run with Team Andi for many years and I continue to be inspired by Amy and her running team. This group of runners continues to keep my spirits high and motivate me through the shortest of runs to the brutal longer distances. Not only have they supported me during my runs, but last year when I was diagnosed with Stage 1A Breast Cancer, they were my rock and helped me during a very tough time in my life. In fact, I ran the NYC Marathon while I was going through radiation. This group not only motivates but they INSPIRE!! I cannot thank them enough for all the love and support they have given me. Since Mount Sinai and its incredible doctors and nurses helped cure me of cancer, what better way than to support Mount Sinai than running through the streets of NYC. Therefore, I want to give back to them.
My daughter Andi was born 10 weeks early weighing just over 2 pounds. She lived in Mount Sinai Hospitals NICU facility for almost 3 months. I brought Andi into this world, the NICU staff brought Andi to life. Not being able to bond with her in privacy and having to leave her nightly was really difficult and heartbreaking. I missed her first bath and diaper change; I didn't know what each of her different cries were trying to tell me. When I brought home Andi as an infant, I missed being able to really connect with her right from birth. I was also petrified of her. I think it is very important for both the parents and their at-risk newborn to have as much bonding time together as possible. I took my passion for running and combined it with my gratitude toward Mount Sinai's NICU and created TEAM ANDI. Since we started in 2014, we have created our first TEAM ANDI private room that can hold one family. We hope to create many rooms for future NICU parents to live with their newborns, hear them cry, smell them, hold them whenever they want, bathe them and be their 24/7 all within the support of the NICU staff.
Please visit https://giving.mountsinai.org/site/TR/DIY/General?px=1181328&pg=personal&fr_id=1200 to make a donation. NO donation is too small. Thank you so much for your love and support.
Love and many thanks,
Sara