When I decided to start a blog, I made some decisions about what I wanted to write about. I knew I wanted to mainly focus on running and exercise. But I also wanted to include non-runners by sharing quick recipes, healthy living tips, vacations, and fun things about Asheville.
I also decided that to make this blog as honest and real as possible, I needed to share some of the ups and downs of my life. The high moments are easy—running Chicago and raising money for Girls on the Run. I didn’t expect a low moment to come so quickly after launching.
My husband and I went to Nashville this past weekend to celebrate my birthday. I am a huge fan of country music and wanted to see where those “honkey tonk” dreams were made. We had a great time until Sunday morning.
That’s when I got a call from my parents that my Grandmother, whom I call Bea, had a heart attack and was in the hospital. They were worried she would not make it through the day and we needed to go to Chattanooga immediately.
The good news is, my Bea is one tough women. By the time we got there she was starting to do better and by today she had made dramatic improvement.
She even started making us laugh again with her quick wit. The nurses kept giving her vanilla pudding from those prepackaged containers. If you knew my Grandmother, you would know this was a bad idea. She makes the good stuff from scratch. She's southern to the bone. My husband offered to bring her chicken and gravy… all of us knowing this wasn’t really an option… Her response? With a big smile and a classic southern drawl….“Shut your mouth!”
My beautiful Bea and I in December 2009
Even with her doing better, we still had to face bad news. Her doctors gave her two choices this morning. Go home with the understanding that her heart was not going to be able to support her much longer. Or have high-risk open heart surgery with a very tough recovery. If the surgery and recovery goes as planned she could possibly live much longer.
Bea made the extremely brave choice to have the heart surgery later this week. She is incredibly strong-willed, proud and tough. I know this decision is not a guarantee, but I’m proud of her for deciding to try.
My husband and I are back in Asheville now, with promises to be back in Chattanooga as soon as we can. She needs to know that we are rooting for her.
I may need some extra prayers and support this week as my family hopes and prays for the best possible outcome from a very low situation. I refuse to give up on her.
How have you handled incredibly tough life decisions?
Have your Grandparents been able to recover from low odds?
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Logan Reising says
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Sharon says
Hi Julie! Positive thoughts headed your way for you & your family.
Loving the blog btw!
JulieWunder says
Sharon,
Thank you so much!!! I hope you'll keep reading!
julie
Danny Davis says
Sorry about your grandmother , my family will keep her in our prayers. I follow u on twitter as coach sunny . I have 2 daughters one who is 10 years old and very athletic. She has joined a group called smart girls , its a running club. The program is an opportunity provided by the Transylvania County boys and girls club. I say that to ask if u will consider speaking to the younger girls about staying the course for fitness. Good luck and thanks for being a positive impact in our community.
Aimee Bumgarner says
Hi Julie. I just discovered your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed reading through your posts. I fell off the running wagon earlier this year, but you've inspired me to give it another go! 🙂 Mark and I are both so sorry to hear about your grandmother's illness and will most definitely keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
JulieWunder says
Aimee,
It's so nice to hear from you! I appreciate your comments and prayers for my Grandmother.
I found your blog through your post-- I enjoyed seeing your kids and the construction of your home! It looks like your garden recovered from that hail!
I hope you can find some time to run-- It looks like you guys have a lot going on.
We look forward to seeing you guys sometime soon!
julie
Judi Gawor says
Hi Julie - I am a loyal WLOS fan! What a great cast that you are a part of! I love the idea of your new BLOG. I can tell that running is a passion of yours. I was excited when I began reading it and then when the joy of your special Birthday weekend turned to alarm about your Grandma - then my thoughts and feelings changed quickly. Your Grandma Bea sounds like a wonderful and special woman and you can bet that I will keep her and all your family in thoughts and prayers this week as you all face this challenge together. I just lost my Mom (to more or less natural causes)this past June . . . we celebrated her 99th Birthday together in Delaware and she passed on June 25th. When you were describing your Grandma Bea she sounded so much like my Mom. Strong, tough, great wit and obviously a positive thinker. I do believe that all of those traits help to carry my Mom for 99 years. This will be a hard week for you, but I bet you are tough just your Grandma Bea - aren't runners made of steel?
My best to you and the family and THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS! Blessings! Judi Gawor - Hendersonville
JulieWunder says
Judi,
Thank you so much for your comments. I hope Bea can stay as strong as your mother-- it sounds like she had a wonderful life. I know you must still be hurting from losing your mom so recently.
I will stay very positive and strong.
Thank you again--
julie
Daris Fore says
Wishing the best of health to your Bea and praying for a quick recovery from her surgery. Miss you when you are away--Look forward to seeing your GREAT smile again soon !!!!!Love and God's blessings to your Bea,You AND your family
JulieWunder says
Daris
Thank you so much. I appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers.
Julie
rolenia hawkins says
Julie I Pray That Your Grandmother Will Be As Good As New Soon Us Southern Girls Are Tough As nails I Am Sure She Will Be Just Fine Be Thinking Of Her And All Your Family During This Time , Rolenia Hawkins Your Facebook Friend
JulieWunder says
Rolenia,
Thank you so much for the thought and prayers!
Julie
Danny Morton says
We will be praying you, your family, and of course, Bea. Also, God bless the surgeons who will be operating.
JulieWunder says
Thank you Danny!
Madeline St Onge says
Julie your family and Bea have a ll my prayers and good wishes for this surgery, she is tuff and she will beat it. How to handle it? Keep running, get all the stress and emotions out that way so you can be there for her
Happy Birthday sweetie, and you are going to look just like Bea when you are her age. (((JULIE))))
JulieWunder says
Madeline--
I'm going out for a run today. Thank you so much for the advice 🙂 Bea is a beautiful women, I'd be honored to look like her. I'll have to post a picture of my mom one day-- we are carbon copies too 🙂
Thank you for the prayers.
Julie
Harold Hall says
a running tip for improveing your distance training. Watch your shadow as you run this will help you inprove your form. Pay attention to see if your head bobbs.try to sooth our stride by taking shorter steps, this will inprove marathon training help to avoid injuries from running long distance. Hope this helps! Harold Hall runner since 1978.
JulieWunder says
Harold,
Thank you so much for the tip-- I'll see if I can see my shadow today. I need all the advice I can get!
Julie
terry early says
julie i no these are very scarey times in our lives when they happen.but we have to belive in our faith.i wish bea well and hope and pray everthing works out ok
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much Terry.
jimmy says
My grandmother i have to say was very tough also i remember her having heartattacks when i was a kid im 35 now. she had a total of 16 heartattacks during her long life also had both breasts removed from getting breast cancer.i remember doctors giving her 6 to 10 months to live more than once and she still kept strong an goin for years after that. i lost her a year and a half ago at the age of 89. i wish ur grandmother the best im sure she will be fine. god bless ur family.
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much Jimmy