Our patient Bill P., recently accomplished an amazing 100 mile cycling challenge and shared the following story with us.
Dr. Shah,
I hope your having a great day as you care for your patients. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know of a recent event I participated in over the month of April.
The Dementia Society of America had a 100 mile challenge as a fundraiser. As I mentioned at my last visit I am riding a peddle bike now the Harley Davidson is lonely. So I signed up and launched a fundraiser on my Facebook page. I started riding in March to build up my strength and prepare for longer rides. When April arrived I went to work riding 5 up to 20 miles in a day. I was tiered after my 20 mile ride however, proud of my accomplishment. When the heavy pollen season hit I took off several riding days. Thankfully, by the end of the month I had surpassed my 100 mile goal and my financial goal.
As I rode I focused my mind on two specific thoughts. 1.) the friends and family members that I have lost to this horrible illness. The impact their lives had on my life in years gone by and how thankful I am to have had them in my life. Secondly, I thought of how thankful and forever grateful I am to you and Dr. Dietz. One year ago if someone told me I would ride a peddle bike one hundred miles in one month or twenty miles in a couple of hours and really enjoy it. Surely I would have laughed out loud!!!
May is my one year surgery anniversary so it’s timely that I write to you with a message of gratitude. My goal for this year is to ride from Richmond to Williamsburg that’s fifty two miles in one day. That will take significant conditioning which I’m working on in preparation. Dr. Shah when I top the hills I feel my heart working and it’s a good feeling a feeling I have not realized before a feeling of accomplishment and recovery.
My deepest appreciation for the care you have shown me since our first meeting.
I will let you know when I make it to Williamsburg.
Continue do do your great work saving & changing lives beat-by-beat, heart-by-heart, life-by-life.
Be blessed,
