About a month ago, I did a story on a lady named Gianna Jessen. She was training for her first marathon. What's the big deal about this? She has Cerebal Palsy. This time last year, Gianna struggled to walk, and wasn't physically able to run at all.
Now, ordinarilly - that would make for an incredible story in and of itself...but when you find out why she had Cerebal Palsy - it makes it even more amazing.
When Giana's 17 year old mother was 7 months pregnant, she decided to have a saline abortion. The procedure involves injecting saline into the womb to cut off the oxygen supply to the fetus. Gianna was expected to be delivered as a stillborn.
Miraculously, she survived. Doctors said she would be nothing more than a vegetable. Her adaptive grandmother nutured her and went through several hours of physical therapy, to the point where she was able to function normally.
I met Gianna in late March and she changed my life. Whenever I think the chips are stacked against me, I think of what she had to overcome and her positive outlook on life.
I documented the final month of her training and was with her the day of the marathon. She was the last to cross the finish line - running the entire 26.8 miles in 8 hours and 5 minutes.
It was the first time I ever shot through tears on a story.
I've put a link to the story the Tennessean did on Giana (a month after the marathon - way to go print media!) If anyone knows of a way I could post the story we aired on my show please pm me.
Regardless of your religious background (FTR - I'm agnostic) or politics regarding abortion (FTR - I'm pro-choice), this is a story that has touched nearly everyone who's heard it.
Here's the link. Please take the time to read it. You won't be sorry.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....505200364/1356
Reply With Quote
