My name is Kim Laseman Tyler. I am the Race Director for the Lyndon Laseman Memorial Fun Run. I am currently organizing the 8th Annual Lyndon Laseman Memorial Fun Run. This is my story. Lyndon and I were married 25 years. We did everything together. We have 2 daughters, Angela and Alisha. We enjoyed participating in different fun runs. Lyndon and Alisha were the serious runners. They would run the half marathons and the 10k’s. Angela and I would do the 5k’s. Lyndon was so excited about turning 50, so he could be in the higher age bracket and win more medals. He had that kind of humor. We were in Fort Worth for the Marathon. Our girls were not with us at this race. Which turned out to be a God thing. Lyndon said he wasn’t quite ready to run the marathon, so he signed up for the 20 mile race. He was in great shape, never sick and feeling good about life in general. It was a beautiful day for a run. It would also be a day I would never forget. He was in the crowd ready for the start. I was standing on a ledge at the side, so I could see his start. He spotted me, the gun went off, he waved this silly wave, yelled “I love you”. I yelled back, “I love you too”, and jokingly said “you better come back to me”. Sounds like that’s made up, but I promise you, it’s true. About 3 hours into the run I saw Lyndon coming over the hill, but he was walking. He was about 100 yards from the finish line and decided to run to the finish. I was snapping pictures and running to meet him. He was bent over and trying to catch his breath. We walked into the resting area and he sat down on a planter. I snapped a picture of him and was putting the camera in the case and he passed out, so I thought. I realized he wasn’t breathing. I checked for a pulse. He had none. I was holding him in my arms and screaming for help. I knew in my heart that he was gone, but wouldn’t admit it to my brain. Lyndon had died in my arms. Lyndon was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy showed a Ruptured Coronary Artery. That was November 8, 2009. Lyndon would have been 50 on November 30, 2009. My life was altered in a split second. How do you go on? What do I do next? I was in a complete daze for weeks. But I decided the day after the funeral that my situation was not going to get the best of me. I had my girls to help get thru this. I had friends and family telling me to get some counseling. My family doctor gave me medication for my stomach, because I was having trouble eating. No appetite. He also gave me sleeping pills and wanted to give me anti-anxiety medication, but I refused. My state of mind at that time was to get my financial affairs in order. Then I could take care of me. I was mad at God for taking Lyndon from me. I had a friend tell me that was okay because Moses, Job and David were mad at God to at one time. But God will respond. I know life does not always go the way we want it to. I was trying to seek God for answers but was so confused on the Why of it all. I didn’t feel like he was there for me. I knew deep within me that he would help me through. The not knowing when was hurting me. I am a very determined person. I needed something to focus on. That is why I organized the Lyndon Laseman Memorial Fun Run. I wanted to honor Lyndon’s memory by helping others. With the help of family, friends and the Henrietta community we have raised over $65,000.00 for different community organizations. I miss Lyndon every day. But I see him in his grandsons. His love of sports and adventure. His love of family and friends. And his love for his church family. Randy Osborn used this verse for Lyndon’s funeral. We use it every year on our t-t-shirts for the run. I knew Lyndon would want me to keep moving forward with my life. I remarried a couple of years ago. Life is good right now. Dear Heart Design's pieces are meant to provide opportunities to share your story or testimony with others. Each story shared in Unveiling Grace receives a piece to allow them to further share their story with others every single day. Have a story to share?
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2 Comments
11/27/2016 07:27:32 pm
My sister in law just sent me this and I cried the whole way through. My 55 year old dad was also a runner and after a workout 3 weeks ago his heart stopped and he passed away. I have struggled with anger, confusion, and sadness that my 3 young children may not remember him. I wrote that exact 2 Timothy verse down the day after he died and have kept it by me, as running was one of our favorite things to do together, and a huge passion of his. Reading this was absolutely crazy, the parallels to our stories is unbelievable. So inspired by your strength, and what an amazing thing you have done out of your tragedy. What a beautiful way to honor him. Thanks so much for sharing. Gave me a lot of encouragement.
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11/28/2016 11:02:37 am
Kim, I'm sorry you had to go through that. You are such an inspiration of strength and character, God Bless you and your family. You mean so much to me.
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