From Surgery To The Starting Line: Running The TCS New York City Marathon With Team Reeve

Over the last year, running has become one of the most important pillars in my life. It’s so much more than exercise, it has become a tangible symbol of hope, resilience, and strength. Every mile, every 5K, every half marathon has prepared me for what's next: a Marathon. Not just any marathon, but the New York City Marathon. The race through the city that never sleeps, where millions gather to celebrate perseverance, community, and dreams that once felt impossible.

For most runners, the New York City Marathon is a bucket-list race. For me, it's something even greater; It's a reminder of how far I've come.

In September 2023, I woke up unable to move my legs after undergoing emergency spinal cord surgery. After a calcified disc had pressed against my spinal cord and was close to puncturing the spinal sac which would have left me permanently paralyzed. In an instant, I went from living independently as a college student to learning how to sit up, stand, and eventually take my first steps again. The hardest part wasn't wondering if I would ever run, it was wondering if I would ever walk. I remember standing in physical therapy, staring at the floor, trying to convince my body to do something that had once come so naturally. One foot in front of the other. It sounds so simple until it isn't. Those first steps felt like a marathon in itself. 

There were setbacks, plateaus, and days filled with frustration, pain, and uncertainty. But there were also incredible victories, my family cheering me on, physical therapists who refused to let me give up, and small moments that slowly added up to something extraordinary.

In July of 2024, after a lot of convincing from my mother, we ran together on the beach. I was never that much of a runner, but I needed to find a way to remind myself what I was capable of. It wasn't until months later, after continuing physical therapy and rebuilding my strength, I decided to try running after my physical therapist recommended I do so. At first, it wasn't pretty. Some runs felt awkward, heavy, and impossible. But something happened every time I laced up my shoes. Running quieted the anxiety that had followed me since my surgery. It gave me confidence when I doubted myself. It reminded me that healing isn't about perfection, it's about showing up, even when it's hard.

Ironically, the hardest runs became my favorite. Those are the runs that remind me of the girl in the hospital who desperately wanted the chance to walk again. They remind me that every mile is a gift and that I never want to take this body, or what it can do, for granted.

Today, I have the incredible honor of saying that I will be running the 2026 New York City Marathon as a member of Team Reeve. This race isn't just another finish line. It's a full-circle moment. It’s proof that healing can look different than we imagine. It's proof that resilience is built one step at a time. It's proof that our hardest chapters don't have to define the rest of our story. Running with Team Reeve makes this journey even more meaningful since The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's mission is deeply personal to me.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has spent decades fighting for better treatments, advancing spinal cord injury research, and supporting individuals and families navigating life after paralysis. They believe in a future where paralysis doesn't have to mean the end of possibility. With nearly 1 in 50 Americans living with some form of paralysis, the Foundation provides free resources, support, and advocacy for individuals and families navigating life with mobility impairments. From peer mentoring and information specialists to quality-of-life grants and programs for veterans, they ensure that no one has to face their journey alone.

Beyond supporting those living with paralysis today, the Foundation is also investing in tomorrow. By funding groundbreaking spinal cord injury research, they are helping turn hope into real treatments. Their support played a role in advancing the first FDA-approved device for treating spinal cord injuries, a major milestone that is already changing lives.

That's why I'm proud to run with Team Reeve. Every dollar raised helps provide life-changing support today while accelerating the search for treatments and, ultimately, a cure.  I know what it's like to wonder if you'll ever move the same way again. I know what it's like to celebrate the smallest victories because they once felt impossible. And I know how life-changing it is to have people who believe in you before you believe in yourself.

As I train for 26.2 miles through the streets of New York City, I'll be carrying so much more than a race bib. I'll carry the memories of hospital hallways. The first time I stood without help. The first steps with my walker. The tears, the setbacks, and every victory that followed. I'll carry the encouragement of my family, my friends, and the therapists who helped rebuild not only my strength but also my confidence. And I'll carry the hope that my story reminds someone else that healing is possible.

Running the New York City Marathon isn't about proving that I'm strong. It's about celebrating the strength that was always there, even when I couldn't see it. Every mile I run will honor the girl who fought so hard to take her first steps.

Every donation will help create more hope for individuals living with spinal cord injuries. And every step toward the finish line will be a reminder that impossible doesn't always stay impossible. Thank you for believing in this journey, for supporting Team Reeve, and for cheering me on along the way.

I'll see you in New York.

Help Me Make Every Mile Matter

By supporting my journey to the New York City Marathon with Team Reeve, you're doing more than helping me reach the finish line,  you're helping provide hope for millions of people living with paralysis. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps fund groundbreaking research, critical support programs, and resources that empower individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairments.

If you're able, please consider making a donation today. Together, we can help create a future where paralysis no longer limits possibility.

https://give.reeve.org/Chloeisuarez

Thank you for believing in this journey and for making every mile count.