Why I’m Running: ‘Without their diligence I would not have survived’
Diana Wood is running the 2024 Boston Marathon for Boston Children's Hospital.
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 story here.
Name: Diana Wood
Age: 41
From: Norwell
I am running the marathon to support Boston Children’s Hospital. The doctors at Children’s saved my life as a child and are currently treating my dear friend’s son, Cam Robinson.
Cam suffers from homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), a rare life-threatening genetic condition that causes accelerated cardiovascular disease and puts him at risk of a fatal cardiac event. He was diagnosed at age 5. A cardiologist ran his cholesterol levels and his LDL was 897 (well above the healthy target of below 120) and he already had a 90% blockage in his right coronary artery. He needed immediate treatment. At that time, the only options were a 6-hour weekly treatment called LDL apheresis or a liver transplant. Cam had a port placed in his chest at the age of 5 and has endured 275 treatments to date.
The care he has received has been life-changing for their family. Without them, Cam would not be where he is today. Like Cam, I was diagnosed with a rare condition calm transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC), which is a form of anemia that can be fatal because of its benign symptoms. Children’s identified the conditions after other doctors missed it. After several blood transfusions I made a full recovery, but without their diligence I would not have survived. Now as a mother myself, I wanted to run to support such an amazing organization who is helping Cam, helped me and will continue to help countless children in the years to come.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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