Tackling a tumour to run again

“Life and running can throw you hills and turns in the road, best you have to just keep going.”

Inspirational quotes and posters sometimes won’t make any difference when the dark hand of depression takes hold. Things can seem to be on track and then that piano can fall from the sky and change things.

Life and running are never certain. This week’s blog is about someone who came around a corner in life and found herself faced with something she had not expected. She found herself in a position where running was not an option. This is her story of being taken down a notch but not forced out.

Lynn Belliveau

Lynn lives in Meteghan River, N.S., with her husband and seven-year-old son. Lynn, a substitute teacher, says she has always loved running. Lynn says she was a fast runner in school, but never perused the sport competitively.

After high school ended so did the running. University involved some volleyball and staying active but no running. In the background, from about the age of 15 were regular aches and pains in her back. The back trouble was worsened when she lost about an inch off a vertebrae. Her back trouble took five years to recover and she still has to be careful.

Long return to running

About five years ago a wedding arrived and Lynn decided she needed to get active and try losing weight for her big day. This is when running returned for the first time since high school. When the wedding was over so too was the running.

Perhaps it was the cold winter winds of change, or the New Year but the running bug returned to Lynn last January. Lynn and her sister decided to start training for the Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax, N.S. The two of them enrolled in a training program at Runner’s Attic, a running store in Yarmouth, N.S.

Tumour

With her running shoes barely worn in, Lynn had some news that set her plans on hold.

“I had recently been told that I had a tumour in my chest cavity that would be removed later that summer. I figured that the training would be perfect, since I would have lost weight and, as a result, would recover quicker. Well, I received a call that would change everything. My surgery would be March 18. There wasn’t much sense in making a commitment to training at that point, so I stopped. And I hadn’t really worked hard anyways. I was lazy. So, I waited for my surgery. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my recovery would take five months.”

With running plans on hold, Lynn waited for surgery.

Depression

“While I was in the hospital, hooked up to a chest tube, I had an epiphany. Life had given me a second chance, because I had essentially given up on life a couple of weeks before my surgery. I had stopped my medications for depression and ADHD, and had decided that I just didn’t care anymore. I even dialed the number to the hospital to cancel my surgery. The depression had won.”

Lynn made it through her surgery and had a grapefruit-sized tumour removed. After her operation she was helped by doctors , nurses and a friendly hospital roommate.

“Through the pain and chest tube, and the grogginess of the pain meds, it hit me: I had a second chance. Something lifted, and I knew I was meant to be alive. I promised myself that as soon as my body would let me, I would run again and I would never again take my health for granted.”

Nerves

Adding to her troublesome back and recovering from a tumour removal, Lynn suffered nerve damage from the surgery. A nerve that controls the body’s ability to regulate temperature was snipped, leaving a portion of Lynn’s left side without the ability to sweat.

“The challenge is to ensure that I cover my left hand with a warmer glove than my right. Plus, after a long run in the cold, my left arm feels like someone is sticking me with needles.”

Really running

Lynn kept true to the promise she made in the hospital and got back running. Since July 25, 2013, she’s missed a bit of time like the rest of us for various things but has been running and training. Lynn didn’t just start running, but also got out and toed the start line. Her races have included the Valley Harvest 10K in Annapolis Valley, N.S., and the popular Lucky 7 Race in Halifax. She has been running again with her sister and her pace has been quickening.

The local running shop has started training for the Blue Nose half-marathon. Lynn and her sister have signed up.

“During my Blue Nose run, I’ll have to make sure I’m hydrated enough and I’ll have to dump water on my right side so that I don’t overheat. A couple of challenges, but it could always be worse.”

Lynn is one tough nut. I feel humbled and honoured to share her story. When at a race I always wonder at the stories of those around me. When feeling like you have it rough, think back to Lynn’s story and realize it could always be tougher. Lynn tackled a tumour and other obstacles to regain her love for running.

Glad to have you out running with us, Lynn.

Run on friends.

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

Do you have an interesting running story to share?

runningwriter@hotmail.com

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