The moment I heard about Maddie Spohr’s tragic death, I knew I had to do something. So, whenever Isabel Kallman of AlphaMom wrote on Twitter stating that she’d be walking for the March of Dimes in honor of Maddie, I decided to join her.
It was completely out of character for me to do something like that. I normally shy away from people I don’t know and events full of new faces. And before Sunday, I hadn’t ever met any of these people before. I’m so glad I overcame any anxiety I had, because I had the best time.
Up until Sunday, I had no idea what I’d been missing.
I honored Maddie on Sunday the best way I knew how, through laughter, conversation, and good old fashioned work. We walked three miles through the streets of New York City. And once we arrived at our destination, I gathered every last bit of strength I had left and ran the remaining 5 miles home.
I thought of Maddie the entire way. Every time I thought about giving up (it was 90 degrees, after all!), I pictured her smiling face and kept on going.
And when I got home and I felt that I could change the world.
So, you’ll have to forgive me if this post comes off as selfish, I know no other way to express my gratitude at this point, and I simply don’t understand what it means to lose a child, but I need to take a minute and thank the March of Dimes, Marinka, and everyone I walked beside that day.
Most importantly I need to thank Madeline Alice Spohr.
On sunday, I not only felt proud calling myself a blogger, a March of Dimes Mom, and a mother; I felt proud calling myself a human being.
Thank you, Maddie.
Very touching post. Thank you.
Being a parent helps move us out of our comfort zones in surprising ways, doesn’t it? It taps us into things we didn’t see or relate to before. You’re a good egg because you really care. :-)
Thanks so much for walking for Maddie and for the March of Dimes.
Pam
News Moms Need/March of Dimes
What a lovely post. It was a great day. I’m glad that we all came out to honor Maddie.