Baby's Health Challenges Inspire Family To Run In Marathon

To say Addie Grace had a rough start in the world would be an understatement.

“Around the time I was twenty weeks pregnant with her, we went and did a high-risk ultrasound because I had a previous illness, and we found out that she had a heart defect,” said Hannah Berndt-Wood Addie’s Mother.

A series of tests would provide answers. “The two main arteries in her heart, the one that goes to the body and the one that goes to the lungs, were reversed,” said Berndt-Wood.

Hannah, a nurse in the pediatric unit at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, now found herself in a very familiar place. “I’m going to be on both sides now. I’m going to be the nurse in the cardiac ICU and then I’m going to give birth and I’m going to have a child in the cardiac ICU,” said Berndt-Wood.

At thirty-six weeks Hannah had to have an emergency C-section and Addie was immediately incubated. “And even incubating her wasn’t working so they had to medically paralyze and sedate her,” said Berndt-Wood.

“When we found out, I mean I was scared, I was nervous,” said Sean Berndt, Hannah’s father.

Berndt lives here in Oklahoma City, and running is what typically calms him. “At the time I was training to run the marathon, or the half marathon, and really during that process, it became one of those, she just kind of helped me through,” said Berndt.

Even though in last year’s marathon, Addie wasn’t even born yet, Sean talked to her throughout the entire race, encouraging her, as well as himself, to continue fighting.

Today, at almost one year old Addie Grace is happy and healthy. “I’ll just always be sure to tell her how strong she was because she won’t remember, but we will,” said Berndt-Wood.

The family has moved back here to Oklahoma City, where they will all participate in different marathon events. “We have made this now a family event, so Addie will be able to run on Saturday, with her mom, her CG, and her aunt Lolo,” said Berndt.

Sean will run the relay with other family members on Sunday. He hopes to fulfill his one dream since last year’s marathon.

“Hopefully I will be able to get her as we cross the finish line so she can cross the finish line this year,” said Berndt.