For Pamela Duggan, RN, from Medfield, Massachusetts, every mile of the Boston Marathon carries profound personal significance. A dedicated nurse at Tufts Medical Centre for nearly three decades, a mother of three, and a first-time marathon runner, Duggan is not merely taking on the challenge of the iconic 26.2-mile course this April—she is running in support of Tufts Medical Centre and the people who have not only cared for her patients but once saved her own child’s life.
Having spent 28 years as part of the Tufts team, Duggan’s connection to the hospital runs deep. However, it was the life-saving care given to her youngest son, Danny, that provided her with the most compelling reason to lace up her running shoes.
During a routine prenatal check-up at 27 weeks pregnant, Duggan’s world was turned upside down when doctors detected an alarming abnormality—Danny’s heart was beating dangerously fast.
“They were concerned about whether they would need to induce labour,” Duggan recalls. “If they did, he could have ended up with chest tubes, and his heart may have needed to be shocked back into the correct rhythm.”
Danny was diagnosed in utero with foetal atrial flutter, a rare and serious heart rhythm disorder. Thanks to the expertise of the medical team at Tufts Medical Centre, his condition was managed effectively, allowing Duggan to carry him safely to full term. Today, Danny is a healthy 16-year-old—one of three reasons Duggan is proudly running in the 129th Boston Marathon.
“All three of my children, Samantha, Charlie, and Danny, were born at Tufts, and I’ve worked there for nearly 30 years,” Duggan says. “The people I work with may not realise just how much they have impacted my life and my family. Running this marathon is my way of giving back—to say thank you.”
As she prepares for her first marathon, Duggan admits she will struggle to hold back her emotions.
“I’m trying to figure out at which point in the marathon I’ll cry first,” she jokes.
And who could blame her? For Duggan, this is about far more than crossing the finish line. It is a tribute to her colleagues, her family, and the hospital that has played such a pivotal role in both her career and her most vulnerable moments.
Marathons for a Cause: A Growing Trend in Healthcare Support
Duggan’s decision to run for Tufts Medical Centre is part of a growing movement where healthcare professionals and patients take part in endurance events to raise awareness and funds for medical institutions. Charity marathon running has become a powerful way to support hospitals, research initiatives, and patient care programmes, fostering a deeper connection between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
At Daily Nurse, we are proud to name Pamela Duggan our Nurse of the Week for transforming gratitude into action—putting her heart and every step of her journey into giving back to the institution that once gave her family so much.