Posted by Agnes Oquendo on September 11, 2001 at 06:35:12:
We started out early on a rare but cool morning. The forecast prdediction for
South Florida was rain, so we tried to arrive before the rain came. Route 1
presented a different picture once in Deerfield Beach -- many shops,
restaurants, wider streets, more sidewalks and a bicycle path to run on.
We received a call from Gary Corbitt to wish us words of encouragement
and to offer assistance in any way he could. Thanks, Gary.
At a waterstop (a gas station ), Amy pulled up and asked Lou if it would be
all right if she said a prayer for him. Lou accepted, then we exchanged
of greetings each went on our way.
Shortly after, Maryann and Maureen called from the Sun Sentinel, they were
interested in doing a story on the run for their paper. They interviewed us
on the phone and sent a cameraperson out to meet us on route 1. She did meet
up with us somewhere after Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The story will be
in tomorrow's paper, you can log on to it at www.sun-sentinel.com.
Joan Ellis Kenney is also responsible for notifying the Sun Sentinel about
this run. Thanks Joan, Maryann, Maureen and the camera person (I am sorry
I didn't get your name).
The discomfort in Lou's ankle did not deter him from making this last day.
So the early start and less breaks, along with the Ace wrap, ibuprophen and Amy's
prayer were the deciding factors. Thanks Amy, the prayer seemed to work.
Besides, I was all too familiar with the look of determination in his eyes.
We had decided earlier that once we reached North Miami, that would be the
finish line, because of the impending storm with flood warnings predicted for
South Miami.
After locating a safe waterstop, I pulled over and waited for Lou. When he
arrived, he started to drink water and as usual asked me, "Where are we?"
I said that we were not far, then we looked up and the sign above us said,
"WELCOME TO AVENTURA, MIAMI". We were dumbfounded, we had made
it without even realizing. As we crossed into Miami, we were greeted only by a
rainstorm. Curious onlookers watched as we celebrated our arrival with high fives.
Even though we are excited about reaching Miami, we know that the war on
cancer must be continued. A waitress asked us what we were getting out of
doing this. We told her, "the satisfaction of knowing we may have saved one or
two lives along the way".
Thanks to everyone for all your prayers, e-mails and for hanging in there with
us. "This we do for you." Mileage for today: 45.
Love, Lou & Agnes