I'm in St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend with my brother-in-law, Michael Shaughnessy, MD. We're here to run the Twin Cities Marathon. 

Mike was here last year as an honoree of the Medtronic Global Heroes program, which each year brings two dozen runners from around the world to run in the 10-mile race or the marathon here. Each of the runners has a Medtronic implantable device or part: pacemaker, insulin pump, urologic device, or other. Each of the runners has a heartwarming, inspiring story.

In 2011, Mike discovered he had a life-threatening aortic aneurysm. He had open-heart surgery and received a new valve, and got a new perspective on living.

Here's Mike's story:

And here's Mike's Heart Beat Report, where he blogged his surgery and recovery and headlong dive into running and triathalons and living life to its fullest.

Mike decided he wanted to return for the marathon this year, and I offered to run with him. It's an honor to do so.

Here's another good video about the Global Voices group last year.