A race of remembrance, and help

Florence Muma was confident she could get her running off on the right foot in 2016 with a personal record at the Resolution Run.

The 65-year-old had been battling a cold in the days leading up to the Jan. 10 race, but Florence was determined to race with the community of runners and athletes she had grown close to in recent years. But by the start of the race that Sunday morning, Florence knew she wasn’t feeling well enough to set a personal record. Still, she wanted to run.

“She ran in the 5K on Sunday morning and came home and never woke up,” said Jennifer Baker, Florence’s daughter.

Florence’s husband of 43 years, Roger Muma, tried to wake Florence from a nap after the run, but she wouldn’t wake up. He called 911, and Florence was rushed to the hospital.

Tests revealed Florence had a sinus and ear infection — she had suffered for years from chronic sinus and ear infections — that had spread into her brain, developing a type of bacterial meningitis. Florence was sedated and intubated, the fluid drained from her nasal passages and several antibiotics started.

Florence wasn’t in the clear yet, but she was expected to survive. After a worrisome day at the hospital, family and friends convinced Roger to return to their Hockinson-area home to get some rest. He went home that Monday night and climbed into bed.

Roger, 65, suffered a heart attack in his sleep and never woke up.

“We went from one day thinking my mom wasn’t going to survive, to the next night, my dad passing away,” Jennifer said. “It was quite the shock.”

Florence was still sedated when her family learned Roger was gone. Florence underwent a procedure to drain the fluid surrounding her brain and was awake the same morning they found Roger.

Her family waited a couple of days to break the news to Florence. They wanted to make sure she was clearheaded enough to understand and strong enough to handle the heartbreak.

“It went as well as could be expected,” Jennifer said. “With every day, she’s getting stronger physically and mentally.”

‘Sweethearts’

Florence and Roger grew up together in Hood River, Ore. They were classmates since first grade, but began their relationship in high school. Roger was a track star; Florence a cheerleader.

They married and moved to Clark County, where they’ve lived for the last 40 years. They had three daughters — Jennifer, Julie Hoff and Heather Bishop — and now nine grandchildren.

“My parents, they were sweethearts,” Jennifer said.

“They’ve had the most amazing marriage, and they just love each other so much,” she added. “They’ve been the best parents.”

About five years ago, Florence made the decision to get healthy and shed the extra weight she had gained. That led her to Bold Training, a Battle Ground training studio owned by Elba Benzler and Karen King.

Florence worked with a nutritionist and trainers and began to lose weight and feel stronger. Soon after, Roger started attending classes, too, and the pair joined in community running events.

“When (Roger) wasn’t out there running, he was out supporting Florence,” Elba said.

That was the case during the recent Resolution Run. Roger had been experiencing abdominal pain. Roger’s doctor found fluid around his heart and told Roger to stop running until he could undergo an EKG. The test was scheduled for Jan. 14, two days after Roger died.

“It was a lot worse than anyone thought,” Elba said.

Roger ran his own business and was the main breadwinner for the family. Since his death, some of the couple’s friends have launched efforts to raise money to help Florence pay for medical expenses, memorial arrangements and living expenses.

A family friend started a GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/8ehsb45w, and more than $9,000 has been raised so far.

And Elba has organized a 5K in honor of Roger. The run is 9 a.m. Saturday at the Battle Ground Gardner Center, 1700 S.W. Ninth Ave., which is where Battle Ground Cinema is.

The event is free, but they’ll be accepting donations to benefit Florence.

Florence hopes to attend the event.

“She’d probably want to walk it if we’d let her,” Jennifer said.

Florence has been transferred to a rehabilitation center where she’s getting physical and occupational therapy. She’s using a walker to get around and should be able to return home this week, Jennifer said.

“To go from running a race to comatose in 24 hours,” Jennifer said, “and then to recover the way she is, it’s just been a miracle.”