|
Friday, September 5, 2008, was supposed to be one of the most exciting days in the lives of Paul and Amy Wilson. They were expecting their first son at Baptist Medical Center Beaches. Instead of a simple delivery coupled with a night or two in the maternity ward, the Wilsons’ newborn son, Luke, was immediately transferred to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in preparation for surgery.
Luke Wilson was born with spina bifida, which caused his spinal cord to protrude through an opening in his lower back. On Monday, September 8, doctors diffused Luke’s spinal cord to allow his spine to grow straight. However, just when the Wilson family thought the worst was over, Luke developed hydrocephalus. As if he had been in a traumatic car accident, Luke’s brain was surrounded by unnecessary fluid.
Paul and Amy Wilson spent the first weeks of their son’s life feeling distraught and helpless, each trying to find some way to help their baby. During this time, Paul paced the halls and often found himself by the Wolfson lobby looking at a pictorial display that showcases the hospital’s history. While standing in front of the large timeline, an idea began to form. Paul quickly calculated the age of the hospital. Wolfson would be 55 years old in 2010. What if he organized and ran a 55-mile Ultra Marathon to benefit Wolfson? Although he couldn’t be Luke’s healing physician, Paul, an experienced marathon runner, realized that he could help the hospital that was saving his son’s life.
Paul Wilson and other runners will independently run 55 miles to celebrate the 55th birthday of Wolfson Children’s Hospital on January 30, 2010. Each step and every mile will reinforce the event’s theme, Every child deserves another birthday…Wolfson is here around-the-clock to help make that happen. Not only will their endurance run raise money for critically-needed programs and raise awareness of the specialized medical care available to our children at Wolfson, but it will celebrate the courage of each child the hospital serves. As runner Dr. Roy states, “This will be a one-time event celebrating a lifetime of courage.”
Luke, who began life with so many unexpected events, continues to surprise and delight his family and doctors. Bright-eyed and all BOY, he is doing extraordinarily well and has an excellent prognosis for a normal and healthy childhood. |
