Readers Say

Emily Spadafora is running for her daughter and Boston Children’s Hospital

"During our stay, the pediatric doctor compared Harper's breathing and breathlessness to someone who just finished running the Boston Marathon."

Emily Spadafora is running to raise money for Boston Children's Hospital where her daughter receives care.

By Zipporah Osei

1 minute to read

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. If you’re running the marathon, you can share your #WhyImRunningBoston story here.

Name: Emily Spadafora
Age: 28
From: Somerville

I am running for my daughter, Harper, my patient partner, and for Boston Children’s Hospital. We noticed at two weeks old Harper was breathing fast and working hard to breathe. [We] rushed her to Boston Children’s Hospital and stayed for over a month, then finally able to continue care outpatient.

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During our stay, the pediatric doctor compared Harper’s breathing and breathlessness to someone who just finished running the Boston Marathon. She is now 18 months old with an entire team of doctors for her health.

We still do not have a diagnosis for Harper’s breathing issues but know she is in the best care possible at Boston Children’s Hospital!

Editor’s note: Entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar. 

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Zipporah Osei

Audience Engagement Editor

Zipporah Osei is an audience engagement editor for Boston.com, where she connects with readers on site and across social media.

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