Jess is a friend of mine.

I met her last summer.

I watched a video with my friend Krissy.

The video was about Jess.

It was posted on news website and had captions.

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Krissy and I are both 20; Jess is 22.

There is something else we have in common.

We all have NF2.

We have had similar experiences.

and felt the same PAINs.

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I watched the PAIN of the heart-wrenching video.

she had to make a choice that most people never have.

Theres a lemon sized tumor pressing against her brainstem.

DEATH or DEAF …

She became deaf last month.

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Wow, Oh, yeah… same thing happened to me.

Jess learned how to sign

all of the words to her favorite song,

and heard her mom say “I love you!” for the last time.

The next morning, Krissy and I woke up early to run in the Long island Half Marathon.

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Why did I title this “PAIN”?

It is because like a drug, and I’m addicted.

I’m addicted to PAIN!

I love PAIN!

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I ran for more than a year on 4 stress fractures,

before the doctor told me that I’m crazy!

I’ve had 11 surgeries and became deaf.

In track, my friends and I loved to comPlAIN.

“My butt hurts!” could be heard from the other side of the track.

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I’ve run 1 full marathon and 5 half marathons.

I have a very high tolerance to PAIN.

Thats what my coach said.

If it hurts, i will complain..

but i go and do it again and again.

I love that pain.

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I’m addicted to pain!

Krissy said “most people with NF2 cannot run. We are cool. We are lucky.”

Wow, yeah, that is true.

Maybe I take it all for granted.

I love to RUN! and I love PAIN!