Wow, I'm speechless. I can't help but wonder what thoghts go through your mind on a long run of 16 miles knowing your time on this earth is very finite.
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What an amazing accomplishment and tremendous legacy for her daughter. Diane, you can do anything, just like your mom!!!!
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Her story leaves me speechless and in deep admiration. This is what heroism tools like - leading, through adversity, by example.
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What an astonishing woman, to have done all that. And what a legacy to leave. To set a goal that difficult, and then complete it. Amazing.
12
I’m training to run my first marathon in April. After reading this I’m going to think of Renee while I’m running it. What a force!
14
of all the amazing things in this story, the idea of distance training during chemo floors me the most. my time in chemo (colon cancer stage four) was beyond incapacitating -- even lying flat in bed was an ordeal.
years after they stopped giving me survival estimates i jumped into a 20k race. i figured i could at least hold an eight minute mile. sadly, i crawled my way to a dnf.
renee seman must have had something really special within her. she's left her daughter a wonderful legacy.
34
We have a choice. We can take what we’re given, then give up and lay down to die or we can go out on our own terms by sliding in sideways and yelling “it was a hall of a ride”. A fit ending to a life well lived. Safe journey!
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Salute you for your courageous effort.You did your best to say good bye to the beloved friend,family and everyone for the time spent with them in very lively way and setting an example to others how to face death eye to eye and die respectfully and not got yourself to be turned down.Even the death would be saluting you for your ways to face him.He must be feeling proud to take her with him for the next journeys.
9
Kudos to this brave woman and her family who supported her. It is challenging enough to train for one marathon let alone six. God bless her.
16
I’m so very sorry for the family’s loss of a woman, mother and wife who clearly had so much to offer. And who through her example taught us so much about strength, love, and living life to the fullest while you have it.
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It is amazing how, when faced with the specter of one's mortality, a person can accomplish unbelievable things. Ms. Seman's determination is truly inspirational. May she rest (finally) in peace.
22
Heroic. Unimaginable to be going through chemotherapy and training for a marathon with the death wind force at your heels. Amazing story.
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I want to believe that we are defined by the challenges we accept...this fine woman has shown us how to live!...Bravo Renee, Bravo!
28
Partial lung removal from cancer ended my competitive running days. To show up at the start line of a marathon takes courage. Someone once said of a marathon if it was easy it wouldn't be one. To do so carrying the ponderous weight of a terminal health issue, is truly heroic. I've run along side thousands of women finishing in over thirty marathons. All strong women. Wish of had the honor to see Ms. Seman.
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What an amazing woman. I love the smile on her face as she shows her medals.
46
What an amazing and strong woman, she has left her daughter a beautiful gift.
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Breast cancer that has metastasized is one of the least understood diseases in America. My wife recently died of cancer that had metastasized.
My wife's original breast cancer tumor was much less aggressive than most of the breast cancer tumors that the doctors at Mass General Hospital normally see. Her lumpectomy was extremely successful, and she was basically declared cancer free.
Five years later her doctors found that an extremely aggressive cancer cell had broken off from her original tumor (probably before her original cancer was detected) and had evidently flowed through her bloodstream to the base of her brain.
For quite some time her doctors discounted her obvious and alarming symptoms (even after a 2 day hospital stay for observation) because her doctors did not understand how such a benign original breast cancer cell could have generated into such a virulent cancer cell and how that virulent cancer cell could have passed unnoticed through her bloodstream. She suffered so long facing this little understood debilitating disease.
I cannot say enough about the courage Renee Seman demonstrated facing those types of fears with such grace as she did.
A wonderful example to all, and thank you NYT for letting her story be known. Let us hear more!
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@Wsheridan I am so sorry your wife fought the good fight and lost her life. There are so many heroes, and she is one of them. Hugs and best wishes.
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@Wsheridan Thank you for sharing about your loss. I hope it helps to read these kinds of inspiring stories. Blessings.
29
@Wsheridan 25 - 30% of all original breast cancers return after "successful" treatment. Way too many women suffering from metastases. All these women dying before their time - where is the outrage? Enough with this talk of mammograms and early detection - useless in the face of metastases which can happen despite early detection.
8
My heart breaks at the thought of the mother of a baby or toddler getting a diagnosis like this.
40
Thank you for that inspiring story. It brought tears to my eyes as I sit reading in a coffee shop.
Condolences to her family
49
She is what I call a hero. Well done Renee.
86
Renee was wonderful and warm and loved her family and her friends in ways that were apparent and obvious. This article doesn't mention that Renee was also a committed, excellent public defender for many years. She was devoted to helping people in difficult situations, and was a leader in working specifically with adolescents who were charged with crimes. Her clients were lucky to have her.
She was kind and empathetic and had an absolutely killer laugh. She's gone too soon.
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@Sarah Thank you for sharing this. The beauty of her endeavor--undertaken with determination, persistence and grace--will be cherished by those privileged to know her. Thank you NYT for this moving portrait.
19
“She wanted her daughter to see someone who was not sick,” Mr. Seman said, “someone who was really tough and did hard things.”
This mother did indeed continue to inspire her young daughter till the very end. God bless this family.
100
Seven-plus years ago I had emergency surgery to remove a tumor that was strangling my jejunum. Initial prognosis was poor and in my first meeting with my oncologist she told me it was 50/50 if I would live 5 years. In my case, further tests and then chemo went well. But the initial message of a very scary prognosis does much to focus the mind - as millions can relate.
Here is an incredible example of a person who so strongly faced a terrible situation with absolutely inspirational strength.
Her message to all of us - make every day count.
87
Inspirational and uplifting. Her husband and daughter must be so proud of her.
My condolences on their great loss.
74
As a sometime marathoner, two things struck me by this article. One is that the mental rewards of running are among its greatest gifts, and I can easily see how Renee benefited from it (and perhaps became dependent on it) while dealing with her illness. The other is that the preparation for a marathon is very time consuming and decreases the time available for other things such as family. David her husband showed incredible love by encouraging her to pursue her passion despite meaning that he would have less time to spend with her. My condolences to David and their daughter.
81
@Joel F I appreciate your viewpoint. Mine is different. When my husband was treated for stage 3/4 throat cancer, I was grateful for anything that pulled him, and our family, away from that negative space that cancer occupied in our lives. Even if it meant he was off doing his own thing without the rest of us. Even if it was time and energy consuming. It kept us from going to a very bad place of despair and indeed, kept us fully alive.
16
And I thought I was doing well just getting on with life as normal after my BC diagnosis.... my GP said I had handled my treatment better than any patient she had ever had (which was unexpected and blew me away), but Renee Selman was obviously in another category altogether. Her family and friends must be intensely proud of her; I am so very sorry for their loss.
105
A strong woman, an uplifting family. My gratitude to the family and NYT for sharing her truly remarkable story with us.
73
I have such great respect for this woman - she was absolutely fearless. My heart goes out to her family, but they will always remember her as the strong and fierce woman that she was. As I struggle with ongoing back problems, I feel some shame over having quit running due to what is minor pain compared to that of Renee Seman, who never quit. Deepest condolences, and incredible respect. God bless.
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