Well, this is it — my last blog before I’m finished with Operation Jack. I won’t post again until I write my race report. So, rather than wasting five minutes of your day with my silly jokes, I’m going to tell you one last time why I’m doing Operation Jack and what I want to come from it.
Operation Jack is my attempt to run 61 full marathons this year to raise money and awareness for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism. I’m a marathoner and a father of three. Running marathons is something I do, although I never ran more than 10 in a year before 2011. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic, so I wanted to do something to make a difference. This was what I came up with. I’m through 60 so far. The 61st will be the Operation Jack Marathon on Sunday.
I came up with this idea to run all these races as my way of trying to make the world a better place. I’d like to think that everybody wants to make the world a better place. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m 100 percent altruistic, but every since I started going to church with my family in 2008, it became increasingly important to me to not live for myself or care too much about myself.
Am I perfect in that regard? Heck no. I’m incredibly flawed. But I’m much happier with the way I approach the world and live my life. I enjoy running, but over time, starting in 2008, I wanted to use my running to do something for more than just myself. I wanted to make something happen. I want to make a difference. If I really think about it, I’m sure there’s a little selfishness in that regard. I mean, say I really made something big happen and made a lot of lives better. Well, maybe I’d have some kind of legacy. Who doesn’t want to be remembered?
But then Jack comes into play in that regard. I want Jack to be remembered. I want him to have a legacy. He’s going to have a tough time in this world. I look at him and get upset because he got robbed. He doesn’t get the same childhood I got, with friends and Little League and sleepovers and playing after school. He gets special ed and therapy and diapers. Me and my wife (his mom) Tiffany will always fight for him and do everything we can to help him along. But I’m realistic about his prognosis.
I mean, look at this video. He’s 7.
There are lots of bad things in this world that harm kids. But autism is what robbed my little boy of his fair chance. I believe that I’ve been led down the path I’m on for the past 36 years, and autism is what I’ve been called to fight. I hate it. I hate what it does to kids, I hate what it does to siblings, I hate what it does to parents and I hate what it does to families.
I want to see it eradicated from the world. I want researches to find the cause, I want researchers to find a cure and I want effective treatments to be developed. I’m not a scientist. I don’t have a lot of money to throw after this problem. But I do have one talent. I can run a marathon, and then run another one fairly soon, then repeat the process.
To me, it’s not a big deal. I can do it, so it doesn’t seem too difficult. But I’m aware that the average person gets some “wow” out of that, so I figured I’d find a way to use that God-given talent to help me fight autism. It took months and months of brainstorming, but this is what I came up with.
I’m fairly inward with a lot of my emotions. Writing this blog can be like my diary. I’m really numb to what my son goes through. I’m not in denial, and I’m 100 percent behind trying anything and everything to help him get better. Desperate times call for desperate measures and we’re desperate. But it doesn’t really seem real to me. It’s more surreal than real. I still think he’s going to come out of this. It’s tough for me to really process what he’s going through.
I know I hate autism, though. I hate hearing from people I went to high school with and learning that they have kids who have this wicked neurological disaorder. I hate autism and I’ll continue to fight it. I hate it. I think you get what I’m saying.
And I use Jack as my driving force behind this. It’s important for me to always remember that I would have never done this if not for him. Anything that comes out of this would not have happened if he didn’t struggle with autism. I want to make what he’s going through have a purpose. That wouldn’t make it worth it, but at least it could accomplish some good.
That good I’m seeking isn’t just me having 61 medals to hang on the wall. It’s helping Train 4 Autism grow, which will help people raise money for small, local autism-related charities. Or the big charities, too. It doesn’t matter. All of us fighting autism are in the same fight, regardless of which charities we support. I want Jack’s autism to end up making things better for other kids. Helping Train 4 Autism grow is my first attempt at that.
When all is said and done, forget about my ice cream and cheeseburgers and travel mishaps. If there’s anything I want people to remember from everything I’ve done, it’s Train 4 Autism. Sometime down the road, when you cross paths with somebody impacted by autism who wants a vehicle to help raise money for a local charity, I want Train 4 Autism to come to mind. If you want to run a marathon someday and do it for a cause, I want you to think of Train 4 Autism. Train 4 Autism. Train 4 Autism. Is it in your head yet?
One other thing I want to stress while I still have a platform is if you have a child someday that’s slow to develop and you discover they might be on the spectrum, don’t delay with treatment! Denial only hurts your child. Early intervention is CRITICAL. Do not ignore warning signs!
So that’s it, I guess.
Train 4 Autism, early intervention.
Train 4 Autism, early intervention.
Train 4 Autism, early intervention.
I think you get it.
I’ll post a race report after the race on Sunday and I’ll blog next year, maybe twice a week or so. But for the most part, I’m done blogging my way through Operation Jack. It’s been an incredible ride and I appreciate you all following along. It’s been a huge test. I’ve failed along the way, I’ve gotten stronger along the way. Individually, it’s really been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it’s been awesome to have some many people along for the ride. And finally, I can see the finish line.
But remember, it’s not too late to spread the word on Twitter or Facebook, and of course, it’s not too late to make a tax-deductible donation! Pass this blog along — let’s make one last attempt to bring people in!
Remember, Train 4 Autism. Early intervention!
Kathy Yu says
I remember when this was just an idea <3
So glad we have someone amazing like you in this world.
Denise Willer says
God Bless your family, Sam!
May your holidays be warm and wonderful.
I’ve never heard “The Climb” before, but it is very fitting.
I hope I can help other families and help raise funds and awareness throughout the years, and let me know if you still need someone for New Mexico. I’m not kidding when I say I will register and run alongside the car for 6.1 mi on my way through the state and on to Texas!
David Pittman says
Sam, it’s been great following your exploits and getting to meet you this year. You are certainly doing a wonderful thing that will indeed leave a legacy for about of Jack. Congratulations on an amazing year. I look forward to watching the growth of Train 4 Autism that you’ve spurred on.
Israel Sanchez says
You are my inspiration! I have a 3 yr. Old son who has Juvenile Diabetes. It’s not fail for our kids to begin their lives with some kind of condition. I will run this Sunday for my son.
Jamie Fellrath Columbus says
Sam, it’s been great getting to know you and I’m grateful to you and your family for all that you’ve done to bring autism and the challenges it creates to the forefront. You’ve created awareness and inspired many with your efforts and achievements this year.
Jenn and I are putting together the Columbus, Ohio Train4Autism chapter starting in 2011 and we have you to thank for the inspiration.
I look forward to seeing you again and hopefully getting to meet Tiff, Ben, Jack, and Ava at some point in the future!
Laura Sullivan says
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Mission accomplished, Sam. I’m proud of you!!!
RAN ZALK says
something to be said about early intervention: DO NOT WAIT.
as blessed as public services are and as expensive privet therapy is the bureaucracy can be too long. trust your own guts, no one knows your child’s needs better then you do. if you feel early intervention programs don’t fulfill your child needs ask for more and in the meantime use privet therapists. development happens in steps, if your child skips one it is practically impossible to go back! (to put it in our geneticist words “she will not be 14 mounts again..”). IT IS CRUCIAL TO ACT IMMEDIATELY!
Rachel Boyd says
Thanks for making me cry.:) I recall Tiff texting me to listen to “The Climb” and that song alone brings tears to my eyes….but today your blog alone did that.
I remember how you explained your idea to me and this blog entry sounds just like that conversation…it seems like that was so long ago and you were worried about how you would do OJ and whether it would make a difference. As you conclude the year, it’s so apparent that you have made an enormous difference in so many people’s lives and what you and your family sacrificed this year to make it happen is appreciated by so many people. You made sure Jack had an impact on the world and T4A is growing as a result.
Love you and your family. May this holiday season be even more special for you guys. I’ll be there in spirit on the 26th and running my 6.1 miles thinking of you and your family.
danielle speckman says
reading this entry for the third time, it reminds me of watching the wizard of oz. they work and work to get to meet the wizard, and he doesnt give them what they have been desparately wanting.
youve come to the end of your OJ “journey”. do you know how much of an impact your year of hard work did on a global scale? probably not. will you ever know? doubt it. and jack, and all the others out there with autism, still have autism.
families will continue to struggle with this disorder. but you absolutely have made a difference in so many lives, and your efforts will pay off, whether you know it or not.
i went back and forth about writing a comment here or emailing… turned pandora on and Journey- “dont stop believin” came on, followed by Beatles “here comes the sun”. so i posted.
congrats, Sam. and THANK YOU!
Stef Silver says
http://www.supermanhomepage.com/
Tiffany Felsenfeld says
I remember when I was standing in the kitchen doing dishes when you approached me with this idea. I said,”yes”, without even having to think about it overnight.
One of my biggest fears in life is living with regrets. What if? What if I had …. Yeah, you didn’t raise $250,000 but you planted seeds as well as awareness all throughout the country. One of my dreams one day, and I believe that day will come soon, is when people are educated about autism just as much as they are about AIDS. Then naturally they’ll be more funds for research.
Sometimes I imagine myself as an elderly woman, rocking in a chair, watching the news, and on comes a news story about how they finally found the cause/cure for autism. I really truly hope it’s in my lifetime. There’s nothing more painful and upsetting as wondering my whole life- what did this to my little innocent child? Sure I have my suspicions, but I don’t for sure.
If every person out there in the world who’s been affected by autism in their lives did just a little something, it would make a huge difference.
Oh, and thanks Sam for making me feel lazy this whole year! And now that you’re home, YOU can take out the trash and kill the spiders!
Jackir Sullivan says
When I first saw this post I was at my moms and couldn’t read it because I’m such a chick and knew I would cry, like I am now. All I can say is Thank You Sam! Thank you Jack. And Tiff, and Ben, and Ada! Thank you!
Ally Phillips says
I’m so grateful to have gotten to know you over this last year or so. You’re my marathon guru, after all.
I’m sorry that the reason that I’ve gotten to know you is because of this terrible, terrible thing called autism. It downright sucks on so many levels, but, it’s been so inspiring to watch you power through all this and plant seeds and touch peoples lives.
I know this year was hard on you and your family and you missed a lot of moments at home with them, but, hopefully it is a year you can look back on proudly and with fond memories.
If nothing else, please know that you helped make 2010 one heck of an amazing year for me. I was honored to wear my Operation Jack shirt and honored to run for him. For you. Tiff. For Ben. For Ava. For everyone impacted by autism. I felt lucky to be a teeny tiny little part of it.
I know there are many more great things in store for you and your family.