One of the last people to finish the New York City Marathon has an amazing story
After a spinal surgery in September left her suffering from opiate withdrawal and contemplating suicide, Saskia van Waaijenburg focused on completing the New York City Marathon to help her recover.
This weekend, a little over a month after her surgery, van Waaijenburg achieved her goal, as one of the final people to cross the finish line in the 2015 New York City Marathon.
Here's a video of her crossing the finish line. Even though the marathon technically ends at 7:30 p.m., race staff was still there to cheer on the final finishers, including van Waaijenburg. Her boyfriend, who also ran the race, was there cheering too.
On the 26 September 2015, my world changed as I underwent spinal surgery. Coming out of surgery has been life changing. Prior, I had been in hospital for debilitating nerve pain. After surgery I stopped my pain medication as I no longer required it. I experienced opiate withdrawals in which I, a normally incredibly positive person, suffered suicidal thoughts. I had to be watched and cared for by my 80-year-old mother during the day and my boyfriend at night.
There was total blackness in my mind during that time and when there were glimmers of me coming through the withdrawals, I focused on the marathon entry I already had.