Born different

This post was submitted by Disney Princess Half Marathon Runner Jennifer Frank for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/guest-post.

I have no personal experience with a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. I do however have experience in growing up in a hospital.

I was born a congenital amputee missing my left arm at the elbow. I began my journey with the Shriners and the Shrine Hospital by the time I was 6 weeks old. Visiting every 6 months until I was 18 years old I essentially grew up within those walls.

It was a place where I found hope. Hope that I wasn’t alone. It was a place where all the other kids there were just like me. In fact, it made me grateful for what I had. I was only missing part of one arm. Some of the kids I would get to meet had no arms, or legs. One boy even had no arms or legs.

My doctors, nurses, therapists and prosthetists also gave me hope. Hope that I could be and do anything that I wanted to be.

I am a miracle maker so that I can give kids hope. I support CMN Hospitals so there is a place where kids can go to find hope in their doctors and nurses. Hope in seeing other kids like them. Hope that they can do and be anything they want to be.

I run because I can.

I run for those who can’t.

I run so kids can live happily ever after.