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In This Issue:
Annmarie Rivard, after finishing the 2011 Boston Marathon
Annmarie Rivard, BSN, RN, PCCN, of BWH's Trauma/Burn Unit, is running this year's Boston Marathon as a member of the Brigham and Women's Hospital Marathon team, and is inspired by two special people: a patient she cared for after last year's Marathon tragedy and her grandfather, who recently passed away.
Rivard's patient was at the finish line last year when she sustained multiple injuries from the first blast. "There were days that were so hard on her emotionally, so part of why I'm running the Marathon this year is to take a stand in her honor, as she is an example of someone who is not afraid," said Rivard, who joined BWH more than five years ago.
Rivard is also running because of the compassionate care her grandfather received at BWH last summer. He needed an aortic valve replacement, and due to his medical complexities, he was referred to BWH from a hospital in Florida. He was enrolled in a study at the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, which was examining a new, less-invasive technique for aortic valve replacement.
"I feel so proud of the work being done at the Brigham to improve medical treatments and the quality of life for our patients," said Rivard. "Prior to surgery, my grandfather could barely walk 15 feet; however, at his one-month check-up, he easily walked 500 feet. He passed away unexpectedly this month, but I truly feel we received extra time with him as a result of his surgery, and his quality of life dramatically improved. I was planning to run the Boston Marathon in his honor, but now I will run in his memory."
Life-giving breakthroughs like the one Rivard's grandfather experienced are supported by the Marathon team's fundraising efforts. Each of the team's 120 runners commits to raising at least $6,500 to benefit care and research at BWH. To date, the team has reached nearly 70 percent of its total fundraising goal of $600,000.
Rivard, who ran her first Boston Marathon in 2011, says this winter's snow and frigid temperatures made training a challenge, but she has been running a long portion of the race route to get ready.
She anticipates that this year's Marathon will be particularly emotional, as her patient plans to be along the route, cheering her on.
"I will definitely be thinking of her as I cross the finish line," Rivard said.
To learn more about the BWH Marathon team, visit BWHMarathonteam.org.