I’m a little late to the starting line this year. Johns Hopkins’ annual Miracles in Motion race is only FOUR weeks away.

I was hesitant to register this year because I have to fly to London the evening of the race. I’ll be away from Steve and the kids for two straight weeks—the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing my family. But as the clock ticked down, the knot in my stomach grew at the thought of not participating.

The timing of the race may not be perfect for me, but the timing of Peter’s illnesses has certainly never been convenient for our family. And it hasn’t always been convenient for his care team at Hopkins, either.

Peter has spent several Christmases in the hospital. Each time, his doctors have made themselves available—connecting with the onsite team and making sure the physicians caring for him have everything they need to provide the best possible care. It has never mattered when or where Peter has been sick. His medical team has always been there for him.

It has been a long eight years.

When I look back at 10-month-old Peter, critically ill in the PICU, and remember our family huddled in a conference room waiting for doctors to tell us whether he was going to make it, it’s hard to believe where we are today.

Thanks to his incredible rheumatologist and care team, Peter has now gone more than a year without a fever or significant inflammatory episode—a milestone we never imagined possible just a short time ago.

When the waters are calm and our son is healthy, it can be easy to take the doctors, nurses, and other members of his care team for granted. But these are exactly the moments when it is so important to give back.

To remember that there are only about 400 pediatric rheumatologists in the entire United States.

To remember how fortunate we are to be part of the Johns Hopkins community.

And to remember the mission of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center: to provide patient- and family-centered care, advance research into childhood disease, and train the next generation of leaders in pediatric medicine.

Our family—and the fact that we are here, healthy, able to hug our children and tell them how much we love them—is living, breathing proof of what that mission can accomplish.

So once again, we are asking our friends and family to join us in supporting Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and Peter’s incredible rheumatology team. Not just for Peter, but for all the children out there and their families who need and deserve the same level of care we have received. 

We would not be where we are today without them. And we would not be here without all of you.