The 2009 Boston Marathon will be my sixth marathon. I am so excited and honored to be running on behalf of Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI). This marathon will be my most challenging but most inspiring one. All funds I raise will benefit Dr. Michael Cunningham’s Pediatric Fellowship program. It is because of my daughter Melissa that we have come to know Dr. Michael Cunningham well. Below is her history with Mass Eye and Ear.

My second child Melissa (14 years old) was born with intensive special needs; amongst her many issues were chronic ear infections. Melissa has been a patient of Dr. Michael Cunningham her entire life. She continues to see him every few months.   Melissa has had countless tests, procedures and surgeries performed at Mass Eye and Ear. She started at Mass Eye and Ear with several ear tube procedures. However, her ear drums were still severely damaged by chronic ear infections which resulted in Melissa having both her eardrums reconstructed over the last few years. Most recently, Melissa has required having a hearing aid in one of her ears and the MEEI audiology staff was extremely attentive to her special needs. From the moment we met Dr. Cunningham 14 years ago, we were impressed by his skill, knowledge and most importantly, his bedside manner.   All these years we’ve benefitted from the excellent services at MEEI, I really felt it was time to give back.