Stephanie Vaughan's plans to participate in the virtual Heritage Classic 5K Run/Walk last year were thwarted as she recovered from brain surgery. But she had already received her T-shirt and medal in the mail, which motivated her to clock her 3.1 miles as soon as she could.

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Stephanie Vaughan is no stranger to brain surgeries. She's had 12 of them. Vaughan has hydrocephalus. The surgeries help drain cerebrospinal fluid that causes pressure on her brain.

While her most recent surgery in 2022 sidelined her plans to participate in the virtual Heritage Classic 5K Walk/Run — at least temporarily — she eventually ventured out to cover her 3.1 miles and found it a triumphant experience.

Lifelong patient

As a senior editor in Health Education and Content Services, Vaughan leads a team of writers and editors who create educational material for patients.

Her personal patient story began when she was a baby. Shortly after birth, Vaughan was diagnosed with meningitis, which damaged the ventricles in her brain that allow cerebrospinal fluid to circulate.

"Instead of flowing as it should, cerebrospinal fluid built up and caused pressure on my brain," Vaughan says.

Left untreated, hydrocephalus can cause various disabilities and be life-threatening. When Vaughan was two months old, doctors installed a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in her brain. The shunt is a thin tube that routes cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the abdominal cavity.

But shunts don't last forever and can stop working for many reasons.

"Shunt malfunctions are more common in children, and my history bears this out," Vaughan says. "All but two of my malfunctions happened by the time I was 12 years old."

Vaughan needed two additional surgeries in adulthood, one almost 20 years ago and the other on Sept. 30 of last year, her first surgery at Mayo Clinic. Her shunts had to be replaced in both cases because they were plugged.

Sidelined from Heritage Classic

The 12-week recovery from her latest surgery thwarted Vaughan's plans to participate in the virtual Heritage Classic 5K Run/Walk.

As a well-being champion, Vaughan first participated in the event in 2021. She was a managing editor for Mayo Clinic Press at the time.

"Because so many team members aren't local to Rochester, the option to participate virtually was a great opportunity for us. It was team-building, healthy and allowed all of us to contribute to the Mayo Clinic Hope Fund in a meaningful way," Vaughan says.

But last year's medical restrictions made her participation in the Heritage Classic out of the question.

"I was disappointed to be sidelined," she says, adding that the recovery was much longer than her last surgery almost 20 years earlier.

"Mentally and emotionally, the recovery has been tough, but I had the medal and T-shirt for the 5K sitting there waiting patiently for me, and I was looking forward to the day I could walk the distance and feel a sense of accomplishment and that I'd truly earned that medal," she says.

Vaughan's patience was soon rewarded.

Triumphant feeling

Eventually, Vaughan found the strength to embark on her virtual Heritage Classic 5K Walk, although the event period had officially passed.

But Vaughan wanted a victory.

"Even though I was physically alone when I walked my 5K, I didn't feel alone. My husband and dogs were home, supporting me and cheering me on as I left and when I arrived home," she says.

Vaughan also had colleagues and patients on her mind as she set one foot in front of another, completing her route in her Kasson, Minnesota, neighborhood.

"And then there was the glorious feeling of being in the fresh air, walking that distance, feeling the breeze on my skin, just being alive. All of that came together in a euphoric rush when I returned home, opened the door to my house, saw my family, and knew I'd done what I set out to do," she says.

Finding purpose

As Vaughan prepares to participate in this year's Heritage Classic 5K Run/Walk, she reflects on the higher purpose she is pursuing with her registration.

"Any health event can affect you physically, mentally and emotionally. One of the things that helped me most as I recovered from surgery was to connect with what gives my life meaning. The Heritage Classic 5K was part of that higher calling for me," she says.

Vaughan's health journey also brought her to Mayo Clinic professionally.

"Many healthcare workers rallied around me throughout my childhood to help ensure I had the best care and chance possible at living a productive and fulfilling life. I wanted to do something with my life that would allow me to give back in some way to all those who helped me when I was growing up," she says.

When an editorial position opened at Mayo, she jumped at the chance.

"Here I am now, almost 17 years later, truly living a dream I didn't realize was possible," Vaughan says.

About the Heritage Classic

Registration for Heritage Classic 5K Run/Walk events support the Mayo Clinic Hope Fund benefitting Mayo Clinic patients and their families who are in financial need while receiving care at any Mayo site.

You can also form a team and start working together by participating in the 19-week "Mayo Miles Challenge" as you prepare for your 5K.

Learn more about the in-person and virtual events on the Heritage Classic 2023 website.