My name is Gary Keller and I am preparing to run in the Mount Desert Island Marathon this fall. This blog is part of my effort to remain focused on my goal, as well as a plea for moral support, as I get out and run each day. I would appreciate if you check in on me every now and then. I do have a higher purpose here as well. I am dedicating my run to the memory of Joshua Keller and to raise money for the March of Dimes in their efforts to fight premature birth and birth defects.
Joshua is the name of our first son, born on May 1st 2005. Sadly he arrived 15 weeks early and due to prematurity and respiratory distress he did not survive. I can’t describe how awful the weeks and months following losing him were. Three years have since passed and even though we adjust to such things we never forget. Joshua is in our thoughts and prayers every day. On the third anniversary of his passing I was inspired to honor his memory by doing something that could benefit others rather than have his legacy be thoughts of sadness and loss. The idea to run a marathon evolved over the ensuing weeks as I took the first few morning walks, then jogs and wrestled with all of the reasons of why I should -or- should not do this in my head. Ultimately "why I should" won out and here we are. My promise is that I will be out and running each day to earn your support. Your support for the March of Dimes will make a difference in people’s lives and will benefit others.
There is a wonderful, happy side to this story. A little over a year after we lost Joshua my Wife gave birth to our second son Aidan. Amazingly, Ryan was born 11 months after that. Both boys are thriving. Ryan just had his 1st birthday and Aidan’s 2nd birthday is fast approaching in August. They are growing so fast. This is a reality that we could barely dream of in those dark days 3 years ago. These pregnancies were very difficult for my Wife, but with lessons learned from our experience with Joshua and the support of the wonderful doctors and nurses at Maternal Fetal Medicine our two beautiful boys are healthy and here with us today.
Thanks again for stopping by. Your support is certainly appreciated. Please consider a
donation to the March of Dimes in Joshua's Memory.
