1st Lt. Margaret Smith of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade takes part in a timed rucksack march in 2014 as part of an Army Cyber Skills Challenge held at Fort George G. Meade, Md., as a second lieutenant in 2014. Smith, who began running after...
Who would have thought that running could not only change your life - but save it?
Most of us would agree that we all face challenges at one time or another and we may have to make tough, even life-changing decisions. Sometimes, when faced with difficult choices, you may just have to run for your life.
That's exactly what 1st Lt. Margaret Smith, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, did when faced with a life threatening medical issue - she ran for her life - and it worked. Now she wants to inspire others.
"I saw an ad while watching a Red Sox -- my favorite baseball team -- game, and the next day I was in the recruiting office," she said.
Later in 2005, while assigned to the 22nd Signal Brigade in Darmstadt, Germany, Smith was preparing to deploy to Iraq when she found out her mother had BRCA2, a genetic mutation.
According to the National Cancer Institute, BRCA2 (Breast Cancer 2, Early Onset) is "a gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. These proteins help repair damaged DNA and, therefore, play a role in ensuring the stability of the cell's genetic material. When either of these genes is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product either is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer."
Smith knew she should be tested, as she had a 50 percent chance of inheriting the harmful BRCA2 mutation from her mother. However, the genetic testing was put on hold until after her daughter, Emily, was born in 2008.
While Smith was assigned to the 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, she decided to go to Walter Reed Hospital for genetic counseling. This decision was a result of having her aunt pass away from breast cancer.
Smith was diagnosed positive for BRCA2.
In 2009, at the age of 29, she underwent a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. After very careful consideration, weighing all the options and deep discussions with her husband -- Smith opted not to get reconstruction.
"The main reason to have the reconstruction surgery was to look normal in clothes, and not having the surgery gave me a quicker healing time which allowed the interaction I needed to care for my 11-month old," she said.
Then at the age of 30, Smith had a total hysterectomy. As a much needed post-surgery motivation, her husband signed Smith up for a 2009 fall marathon.
"He said concentrating on the run and training would give me focus."
It worked. The marathon motivated Smith to "get up, get out and get moving." She ran the Marine Corp Marathon in October 2009, and qualified for the Boston Marathon, where she finished with a time of 3:24, in April 2010. With that, Smith was hooked. As the weight of her emotional trauma lifted and an empowerment developed from having made tough medical choices, Smith's running improved.
"I became obsessed and started to race myself," she admitted.
The running definitely contributed to her healing and health.
Smith now serves as an advocate at Walter Reed, talking to similar patients. Her experience has opened several avenues, allowing her to "represent the community." She is also a spokesperson for breast cancer and genetic testing at local events, and is a member of a Face Book group called "Flat and Fabulous", which uses the popular Social Media outlet to spread the word.
Smith has no regrets.
"The last seven or eight years of my life have validated my choice," she said. "People still need to be educated, there are some out there who just don't get it."
"I've been asked to change in a stall at a gym so my scars don't 'offend' anyone and others have made snide comments about my being flat-chested," Smith noted. "That hurt some, but it's all about education."
Smith's decisions have been both empowering and life-changing.
One of her most memorable moments as a result of her surgical decision and determination to keep in shape was the opportunity to be a body-double for actress Lyndsy Fonseca in Jennifer Anniston's 2011 production of "Five." The Lifetime movie was an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people's lives. Fonseca's role was an exotic dancer whose career would most certainly be affected by breast cancer.
"That opportunity validated everything," Smith said.
Running secured other empowering life decisions for Smith: she went on to finish college, where she graduated in May 2011, from Penn State University, and in August that same year she started her master's degree at Georgetown University with the Army's Green-to-Gold program, which enabled her to go from enlisted to officer.
Smith has continuously evolved as a runner, having competed in the Soulstice Mountain Trail Run, Rosaryville Veteran's Day 50K, Army10-Miler, Vermont City Marathon, Mad Marathon, Blue Ridge Marathon and Laurel Highlands Ultra. She is currently training for the upcoming 2016 Leadville Trail 100, an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado. Smith considers this the "grand slam of running."
She passionately acts as a public servant, spreading the word about BRCA2 and its ripple-effect.
"I want women to get tested…I want them to know there are others out there experiencing the same thing, others who have been through it," Smith said. "Men are carriers too -- get tested."
"When my daughter [Emily] turns 21, hopefully she will be influenced by my decisions and will get tested," she added.
Smith believes her message is important because she had little support avenues.
"Everyone needs at least one story to compare."
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