Trudy Worden

Ben was also my inspiration to get back on a bike

Sunday 14th Apr I used to ride my bike as a kid a lot growing up in a small town, to and from school, to Paula's place, to sports training, everywhere, but hadn't really ridden a bike since I was 17 until I met Ben.   Share

My husband is my inspiration for running

Monday 1st Apr My husband, best friend and partner in life has faced and overcome many things, but recently faced his biggest challenge yet, a very scary cancer diagnosis, admittance to the RBWH Emergency department and a very lengthy and complex surgery to remove a decent size malignant tumour behind his eye in his sinus that was on the other side also pushing against his brain which resulted in damage to his brain membrane that needed to be repaired (with grafting).  This all happened in the past 4 weeks and thankfully to the Skull Base Patient Experience unit under Dr Ryan Sommerville he is now in the RBWH in recovery.  Its been 5 days since his surgery and so far the signs are positive.  Pathology results are due back in a week or so more to see if they were successful in removing all of the tumour that had weaved its way around the eye, pushing it forward and down, and the front of the brain and even eroded some bone in his eyebrow area.  Luckily he was able to keep his eye, yet he lost his sense of smell, a very small price to pay considering.  He is going amazing and I couldn't be prouder. He is on his own up and down journey of course (that I won't speak to) but I can see tiny improvements each day since his surgery, and this is giving me a lot of comfort and hope.

My husband first inspired me to run the most I'd ever run and to do my first ever 5km Park Run 11 years ago.  He is a triathlete and has completed several Iron Man distance events #proudwifey

I haven't been running much before his diagnosis as I'd rolled my ankle on my last Park run early February.  Then I felt guilty as Ben couldn't run.  He was actually running right up until the day of his first CT scan although he wasn't quite feeling right.
I started thinking I could start running and cycling again when he was better.  But I have a strong family history of heart disease and I need to keep moving, I know Ben would want me to, so I had all of these different emotions but this event popped up in my inbox and I felt this is what I needed. 

It also came at a time when I was trying to think how I could say thanks to the RBWH staff, especially the ENT surgeons and nurses who have been caring for Ben so very well and I believe have saved his life.  And so here I am, I've not heard of this event before last night when I saw the email and started my journey this morning with my first 5km run since early Feb, not very fast but I finished. Share