Red fades to gray, then chilling white,
Something feels wrong, a dreadful sight.

The lips of a runner turn blue and cold,
A scene so far from the help we hoped.

My hands are shaking, disbelief in my chest,
But his hands are steady, he won’t let her rest.

Frozen on sidelines, I watch him react,
He springs into action, no moment to lack.

Her pulse is absent, her breaths are weak,
He presses with purpose, no time for the meek.

At 110 beats, I can only pray,
As her body grows pale, slipping further away.

It feels like forever, this struggle to live,
As I watch my father, the hope he must give.

Rewind just ten minutes, the cheers in the air,
The rhythm of footsteps, excitement to share.

I finished my race, but then panic struck,
A young runner faltered, all hope seemed to suck.

She clutched at the railing, then fell to the ground,
Eyes rolling back, in silence profound.

Panic erupted, the crowd filled with dread,
Amongst all the chaos, my father then sped.

He hops over barriers, checking her heart,
With hands full of knowledge, he plays his part.

My body is numb, anguish takes hold,
Yet I sprint to the finish, my voice bold.

“Help! A woman’s down, just yards from the line!”
But paramedics stare, frozen in time.

I plead once again, “She’s not breathing, oh please!
A runner—hurry! She’s fading with ease!”

At last, they arrive, checking her fate,
With urgency clear, they won’t hesitate.

The AED buzzes, they shock her with care,
While my father stays focused, love fills the air.

A week later, news came, she lived without strife,
But who knows her fate without my dad’s life?

We’ve talked about that day, his fears laid bare,
Yet instinct called strongly; he answered the prayer.

Among the runners, she lay in despair,
A crowd full of fear, yet he chose to care.

His knowledge and courage, a nurse’s true creed,
To heal and to serve, in her moment of need.

I think of that race as I enter the fray.
Medicine’s art is a path we all sway.

At the heart of my drive stands a man, my own kin.
Not just a spectator, but a hero within.

In unexpected moments, compassion does shine,
In every heartbeat, his legacy’s mine.