Greg Wagner Survives Stroke & Brain Aneurysm to Run Boston Marathon
Stroke survivor Greg Wagner overcame all odds to run the Boston Marathon...twice.
Text Size:
April 20, 2010
When Greg Wagner was only three years old, he survived a stroke and brain aneurysm - the effects of which he still struggles to overcome today. However, Wagner, who's now 25-years-old, has trained for and run in the Boston Marathon twice within the last three years, according to the Washington Post.
Though the athlete has considered hanging up his running shoes and letting someone else hit the pavement, the support and encouragement from those who follow him makes it nearly impossible for him to quit.
"Here's a great example of why I run," the 25-year-old told the news source. "I put up as a Facebook status a while ago 'This is gonna be my final marathon' and within 10 minutes I had five responses from different brain surgery survivors telling me, 'No, you can't.'"
He added that he doesn't feel as if he's expected to run, but that he thinks that other survivors glean strength from his efforts.
Though Wagner was very young when he experienced his stroke, adults can take steps toward a healthier lifestyle to reduce their chances of having an episode. Most doctors agree that a low-cholesterol diet and regular physical exercise can substantially reduce one's risk.
Approximately 143,579 Americans died as a result of a stroke in 2005.
Active individuals who run, like Wagner, or make a point of exercising, are more likely to make a full recovery after experiencing a stroke than those who had led a more sedentary lifestyle prior to the incident.
The American Heart Association advocates for victims of stroke by providing information and other resources to help survivors and their families thrive.
When Greg Wagner was only three years old, he survived a stroke and brain aneurysm - the effects of which he still struggles to overcome today. However, Wagner, who's now 25-years-old, has trained for and run in the Boston Marathon twice within the last three years, according to the Washington Post.
Though the athlete has considered hanging up his running shoes and letting someone else hit the pavement, the support and encouragement from those who follow him makes it nearly impossible for him to quit.
"Here's a great example of why I run," the 25-year-old told the news source. "I put up as a Facebook status a while ago 'This is gonna be my final marathon' and within 10 minutes I had five responses from different brain surgery survivors telling me, 'No, you can't.'"
He added that he doesn't feel as if he's expected to run, but that he thinks that other survivors glean strength from his efforts.
Though Wagner was very young when he experienced his stroke, adults can take steps toward a healthier lifestyle to reduce their chances of having an episode. Most doctors agree that a low-cholesterol diet and regular physical exercise can substantially reduce one's risk.
Approximately 143,579 Americans died as a result of a stroke in 2005.
Active individuals who run, like Wagner, or make a point of exercising, are more likely to make a full recovery after experiencing a stroke than those who had led a more sedentary lifestyle prior to the incident.
The American Heart Association advocates for victims of stroke by providing information and other resources to help survivors and their families thrive.
