Story by Lynn Gilbert with content from Cape Breton Post
Hematologist Dr. Kate MacInnes realized a dream earlier this month, finishing the Boston Marathon in just under three hours – the first woman from Cape Breton to achieve this milestone.
But for Dr. MacInnes – or “Dr. Kate” as she’s fondly known at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital’s (ICMH) cancer clinic – the race was bigger than medals and time stamps. It was also a way to honour her patients.
“One patient of mine, who had intended to be in Boston for the marathon but could not due to sickness, asked me at Mile 19 to think of other runners who would have liked to make the run but unfortunately couldn’t,” she told the Cape Breton Post.
“I could not help but think of my patients who are facing very challenging times in their lives and how they are meeting them with such determination and strength. They gave me motivation to do well. To keep them in my thoughts, I wrote ‘Mile 19’ on my arm. They were all a part of my run,” she said.
When she returned from Boston, the clinic’s staff greeted Dr. Kate with a celebration.
“We are so proud of Dr. Kate,” says Melissa Beaton, RN at ICMH’s cancer clinic. “She is a hard-working hematologist who goes above and beyond for our cancer patients at ICMH and now she is the fastest female from Cape Breton to run the Boston Marathon. Dr. Kate is the entire package – the kindest person in the world, incredibly smart, musical and athletic. She is amazing.”
Photo at top: Dr. Kate MacInnes, hematologist, at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital after the Boston Marathon
Photo at bottom: The staff in the cancer clinic at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital celebrate Dr. Kate’s run. From left to right: Laura MacArthur, RN; Kelly Glabais-Cummings, RN; Dr. Kate MacInnes, hematologist; Melissa Beaton, RN; Caitlin MacLean, RN and Aurelie Hunter, RN.
