Shawna Sousa will run the 2018 Boston Marathon as a member of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Emergency Response Marathon Team, raising funds to support the hospital’s emergency care and disaster relief and preparedness efforts. It’s her way of thanking Mass General staffers for their care of her daughter, Cori Sousa, and her grandchild, Levi.
“Running 26.2 miles is easy compared to watching your child struggle with a chronic illness,” says Shawna, who lives in Amherst, New Hampshire. “The teams at Mass General have given Cori the ability to live and enjoy her life, and for that we will be forever grateful.”
Cori, 22, was admitted to Mass General eight times in 2017 as she struggled with complications from Crohn’s disease. She stayed at Mass General a ninth time last year for the birth of her son, Levi, who received treatment at the hospital’s Neonatology/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Home Away from Home
Mass General became a home away from home for Cori and Shawna, who was at her daughter’s side on every visit, working around her busy schedule as a program director for PLUS Co., a non-profit organization that provides services to people with developmental disabilities.
The professionalism of doctors, nurses and staff members prompted Shawna to want to give back to Mass General. That sparked her quest to give Boston’s storied race a shot, even though she’s never before run anything longer than a half-marathon.
“My grandmother, who is 91, said that it’s good I’m running because they need new blood to win this thing,” Shawna says. “I laughed and told her the people who do well will be going home by the time I finish.”
Care and Attention to Detail
Cori was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager. “She was always an achy kid, but would always say she was fine,” Shawna recalls. “It came in hard core with a flu when she was 16 and she couldn’t get away from it.”
Crohn’s disease inflames the digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Medicine controlled Cori’s symptoms until last year, when the pain became so severe that she repeatedly sought treatment at Mass General, traveling from her Brattleboro, Vermont, home to Shawna’s Amherst residence, so they could drive together to Boston.
“They know her, and she sees the same people,” Shawna says of Mass General staff. “You get there and they move you through and everything is organized. It’s really been assuring, the level of care and attention to detail.”
Always Ready to Help
Shawna also credits Mass General doctors for always being ready to help Cori. During one of her recent illnesses, Cori’s regular doctor was unable for immediate consultation. Instead, Jeffrey Biller, MD, director of Pediatric Endoscopy at MassGeneral Hospital for Children, reached out to help. Dr. Biller was Cori’s doctor when she was a teenager, and she was warmed by the sound of his voice.
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but these days Cori keeps symptoms at bay with new medication that is more effective than the one she previously used.
Mass General staff so impressed Cori that when it came time to deliver Levi, she never considered giving birth at another hospital. Levi arrived three weeks early in May 2017, and a Mass General nurse noticed his breath was uneven, Shawna recalls. Tests found Levi had a low level of oxygen in his blood, and he was moved to NICU for five days. He is now a healthy infant. “I know it is what they are trained to do,” Shawna says, “but my family is grateful and can’t thank the nurse enough.”
Boston Marathon is Her First
For her part, Cori marvels at how her mother always puts others before herself.
Cori remembers how, when she had to stay overnight at Mass General to be treated for Crohn’s, Shawna would always be at her bedside when she fell asleep at night and when she woke in the morning.
With that in mind, it doesn’t surprise Cori that, at age 47, her mother will run her first marathon to support programs at Mass General. “It’s very impressive and for a great cause,” Cori says. “I’m really proud of her.”
Please consider supporting Shawna and other runners raising money for Mass General’s emergency response efforts.
John Hancock-Mass General Boston Marathon® Partnership
Mass General is proud to be an official Partner of John Hancock in the Marathon Non-Profit Program. The Non-Profit Program provides over 1,000 Boston Marathon® bibs to select non-profit organizations throughout the community, which provides organizations with a significant fundraising opportunity. Last year, John Hancock Non-Profit Runners raised over $10M for their causes. Learn more about our John Hancock-Mass General Boston Marathon partnership that continues to provide significant support for our three signature causes: Pediatric Cancer, Emergency Medicine, and Home Base.
