Laura Kern

On March 9, 2022, I experienced a ruptured brain aneurysm while working out at home alone. I was lucky to get a quick diagnosis and top-notch treatment at USC Keck in Los Angeles, getting released the day before the 2022 Los Angeles Marathon. My entire care team had gotten to know me during my hospital stay and knew of my long history of participating in endurance sports—namely triathlon and marathon running—with my husband Steve. They told me about a prior patient, Kathy Nguyen, who had returned to triathlon and running after experiencing a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2015. That first day home, I tracked Kathy and her neurosurgeon Dr. Russin as they ran 26.2 miles across LA. Even though I was still mainly confined to my bed, I was inspired to set my sights on the 2023 LA Marathon to celebrate my first ‘anuerversary.’ And while Kathy may have been a complete stranger when I tracked her during last year’s race, she has been a huge source of support for me this year, as she’s experienced a similar journey in getting back into her passion for endurance sports.

I am honored, thrilled, and slightly scared (in a good way!) to be racing with WeRunWithYou to support our community of survivors and our mission. I can’t think of a better way to pay it forward than to help other survivors get back to doing what they love. Your support means the world to me!

- Laura