Nikki Ouellette is running Boston for her son
"I am running on the Miles for Miracles team to help raise money for all the programs and research that helped my son and family."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon runners share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston.
Name: Nikki Ouellette
Age: 38
From: Millbury
I run for my 9 year old son, Hayden. He was born with an unexpected congenital heart disease in 2014. We spent his first 5.5 weeks of life living on a torturous rollercoaster of emotions and fear at Boston Children’s Hospital. During this time, he had open heart surgery at 4 days old and we almost lost him on two occasions during two very long cardiac arrests.
We met a family with a newborn daughter in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) during our time there and they were the ones who introduced me to the Miles for Miracles team. Sadly, their baby passed in the CICU. I remember sitting in a pump room alone, sobbing and pleading with god to let my son make it home.
I am running on the Miles for Miracles team to help raise money for all the programs and research that helped my son and family during a time of complete sadness and desperation because now I know and understand these are things essential so saving lives like Hayden’s. I want to do whatever I can to help the next mom sitting in that pump room crying and pleading for some sort of help for their child. Hayden’s full story is on our fundraising page.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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