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Every day, BWHers go above and beyond to care for and support patients and their families. That commitment does not go unnoticed. It’s evidenced by the many patients and families who return to visit their care providers, and by the countless thank-you cards and letters of gratitude that come into the hospital every day.
For some family members, the care their loved ones received touched them in such a special way that they decided to go the extra mile – or 26.2 miles – to give back to the hospital by joining Team Brigham.
“While I was completely helpless in the physical care of my mother, it was reassuring to know that she had a phenomenal team of care providers,” said Emilie Wiggin, 24, whose mother spent four weeks in BWH’s Burn and Trauma Unit.
As a way of expressing her gratitude, Wiggin and her brother Schuyler, 26, are running their first marathon this year as members of Team Brigham. “I want to run to do my part to give back to a hospital that helps so many people on a daily basis,” she said.
This year’s Team Brigham is made up of 55 runners, many of whom, like the Wiggins, have a personal connection to the hospital. By signing up with Team Brigham, each runner is given an official Boston Marathon number and commits to raising at least $5,000 in support of BWH’s community health programs.
“I am raising money so others can receive the same quality of care my mother did,” said Schuyler Wiggin. “At the same time, I’m accomplishing one of my personal goals by running the marathon.” The brother and sister duo are not alone in their commitment to BWH.
Courtney Holloway, 26, joined Team Brigham because of the personal attention and supportive environment that she and her father experienced during pre-testing to find out whether she could donate a kidney to him.
She was a perfect match, but unrelated complications have delayed the transplant process, which she hopes will go forward in the future.
“My dad and I were amazed by the support that the care team provided to us, in addition to their clinical expertise,” said Holloway, who will be running her sixth marathon this year.
Tom Hancock, 48, a seasoned runner with 20 marathons under his belt, will run in honor of his living and deceased daughters. Last fall, Hancock and his wife, Cathy Fullerton, were expecting twin daughters. Complications led to one daughter being stillborn, and the other being born prematurely at 28 weeks. She spent nearly three months in the NICU at BWH.
“Today, Violet is three months old and a healthy 11 pounds,” said Hancock. “The care my family experienced was fantastic, and I’m honored to give back to the hospital through Team Brigham.”
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