Brenda Donato Rainbow Run

On Sunday my parents drove up to Walnut Creek to meet me for the 1st Annual Brenda Donato Rainbow 5k Fun run/walk. Brenda Donato is one of our honorees on the East Bay Team who we lost a year ago to a battle with Leukemia.

Brenda was diagnosed in February 2005 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She spent 3 months in the hospital before receiving an autologous stem-cell transplant (with her own stem-cells). After leaving the hospital, she became very active with Team In Training and completed the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in October 2005, the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon in January 2006 and the Wildflower Olympic Distance Triathlon in May 2006. Still feeling healthy, she began to train for the June 2006 Alaska half marathon.

On June 9, 2006, she found out that her cancer had returned. After using her own stem cells for a transplant in 2005 she would require a foreign donor's cells for another stem-cell transplant. Most fortunately, a 9 out of 10 match was found and Brenda had that transplant on September 20 2006.

While recovering, Brenda faced many physical and mental challenges. 110 days after her transplant, Brenda developed graft vs. host disease of the lungs. She bravely battled this new obstacle that reduced her lung capacity to 20% of normal. She passed away on April 14, 2007, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Just 2 days before she passed away, she posted this final message:

Through these years I have absolutely NO regrets. I worked hard and played even harder.

I never said a swear word, always went to school on time, and won the PE award in high school. In fact, 3 days ago I just crawled up the stairs.

And now, I'm back in bed still hooked up, still using a commode, and wearing a purple t-shirt that says (in orange writing) "freakishly strong" while covered with a wonderful TNT blanket that was knitted for me just weeks ago. Now I peacefully await and end the battle that has attacked my 36-year-old body surrounded by my most beautiful family and friends. Surreal, but true, this is really happening.

We all wait. Me, my family and friends that are here now, and all of you. Even though you're not here with me physically (it would simply be impossible for all of you to fit in this room), I want you to know I feel you and know you're here. I love all of you.

Thank you for loving and supporting me. Please continue to pour it out on my three boys.

Brenda has a lot of history with the East Bay team and I was honored to take part in the celebration of her life on Sunday with my fellow teammates and parents.

Even though I was fresh off my knee boo-boo, I decided my knee felt strong enough to walk the 5k with my parents. We even had supportive hecklers behind us the whole way. Thanks Tori, Aiden, and Sarah!