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Dear Mr. Tubbs and Mr. Fallesen,

I am writing to you to tell you about an incredible woman that I met, whom I believe both of you know.

I am a triathlete, and new to Rochester. I am also a husband, and a father of three. Last year, I tried to mingle with the Rochester Area Triathletes. Most were very kind to me, but still others clearly had their clique.

About two months ago, my son became very ill. He was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, and taken into the Intensive Care Unit. After three days he was extubated, and transferred to the Pediatric IMCU. There we met a nurse who we'd never forget.

Her name is Mary Eggers. I had read about her in the paper, a blurb here and there. And I had seen her win a lot of races last season. But I never recognized her in scrubbs, and I couldn't read her name tag in the dark. She was working the night shift, and my son was very ill, very tired, and we were all frightened.

Mary tiptoed into our room, quietly introduced herself to my wife and I, and carefully and skillfully, examined our son, and took his vital signs. He woke up, but she calmed him. All the other nurses barged in and woke him with lights, loud voices, etc. Mary carried a flashlight instead of whipping the lights on. She made us coffee, I think she knew we weren't sleeping well at all. She also sat with our son while we took some breaks.

The next day I asked the nurse who had taken care of us last night. She told us it was their "Ironwoman, Mary", and then I made the connection. But I had a hard time believing that such a graceful, quiet, kind nurse, was really the woman I saw fiercely competing and getting to the finish line first.

That night, Mary took care of us again. I brought up the triathlon connection. She smiled, thanked me for my compliments, and then touched our son and said "This is the real Ironman. Our sport is easy." and she was right.

I left the room and took a bathroom break, she stopped me and asked how I was. She asked me what got me into triathlon, what my goals were. I could not believe that someone of her talent and background would be asking me that.

Mary took unbelievable care of our son. That is the most important thing. He really responded to her, and he didn't do that with anyone else. The little things she did, like give my wife a break to take a shower in the staff locker room, bringing us coffee, the flashlight, her interaction with our son, it made a difference to us.

When I learned that she was doing the Lake Placid Ironman for the Make a Wish Foundation, my wife and I were not surprised. You should see her with her patients. The love and kindness she bathes children with, is angelic.

My wife and I wanted to write and express to someone, how terrific a person we think Mary Eggers is. A nurse, a triathlete, and she has a 2 year old son. She is even still in touch with my wife, via email, and helping her to set up a training program to complete her first sprint triathlon this fall.

You have a very special person involved with Ironman4Charity. Mary is the definition of modesty, happiness, care, and love. She touches everyone who she comes in contact with. You might want to look at her, when you need your next story. I don't think you could capture it in one article. Thank you for your time.

Kenneth and Amanda Bernstein

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