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Runner Spotlight: Megan Robershotte
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April 2009
Runners Tie to the Run for Research team Stretches Beyond the Finish Line
“We’re all here to help each other and learn from one another this is one of my mom’s mantras. The fact that running and raising money could possibly help the most caring, kind person I’ve ever encountered, plus I can personally accomplish something while perpetuating her firmly-held beliefs is the inspiration behind why I’m running this year’s Boston Marathon® .”
Megan Robershotte, on running the Boston Marathon in honor of her mother Debbie, who has hepatitis C.
Megan Robershotte of Boston, Massachusetts, sees her mother as a strong and positive role model. As a core member of the Robershotte family, her Mom has always been an energetic, strong and supportive wife and mother to Megan, her sister Leilani, brother Alex and father, Paul. Two years ago, Debbie broke her leg during a waterskiing accident and had trouble recovering. Her primary care physician discovered elevated liver enzymes in her blood work. After further testing, Debbie was diagnosed with hepatitis C, a condition which may have lain dormant for over 30 years. Debbie was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, giving her an estimated five years with her current liver. The news was devastating and shocking to the family, for their mother is the most unlikely candidate for the disease. She has always been full of enormous amounts of energy, and dedicated to her family and friends. Even with her illness, Debbie has persevered by trying a number of alternative therapies from homeopathy to nutrition and acupuncture and keeping her sense of faith, and humor, alive. She is a patient of Fredrick D. Gordon, M.D., Medical Director of Liver Transplantation and Hepatology at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington and Dr. Frank V. Linn, Jr., MD, Gastroenterologist at Emerson Hospital in Concord. Today, the family is evaluating a number of options including Megan’s father as a living donor. “In addition to the desire to help my mom, my Dad is an MIT nerd and thinks the fact that his liver will grow back is fascinating,” says Megan.
Megan ran her first marathon in San Francisco in 2007 up and down some of the toughest hills in the country. She enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the West Coast but learned some important lessons about marathon training, and over-training. Megan’s mother was diagnosed shortly before the San Francisco race and she decided to find a support group to help her cope with the news. Through the Internet, she discovered the American Liver Foundation Run for Research team and made the choice to run the Boston Marathon; this time for a very personal cause. Today, as a member of the team, Megan is not only doing preventative physical therapy at Kennedy Brothers and adding in lower impact workouts during the week to combat injury, she is also raising $3,000 for those affected by liver disease; people like her own mother.
Describing herself as a creative, colorful and caring person, Megan says that her mother has taught her the true meaning of love and respect. “The news of my Mom’s illness has forced a change in our family dynamic,” she says. “We had all taken for granted just how much she did and does for us. These days, we try our best to return the favors we’ve enjoyed from Mom throughout our lives.” Megan explains.
