05/18/2026
Two weeks out from Bub’s Run and we’ve had more than a few questions about the angel wings on this year’s shirt sleeve…and about the beautiful angel we honored with a memorial chair on race morning.
The short answer to both is simple - sweet, sweet Julia. But the answer we would rather share is much richer, and much better told by Julia’s incredible mother…our friend, Kelly. We asked Kelly if she’d tell you all the story of those interlocked wings…and she did.
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Julia Isabelle Gouteix burst into the world in a flurry of unexpected chaos on July 5, 2011, nearly twelve weeks before her due date. Due to severe preeclampsia, what had been an otherwise typical pregnancy upended the Gouteix family in a matter of hours.
Initially described as the rock star of the NICU, things quickly took a turn, which resulted in an intense infection (necrotizing enterocolitis for those medically inclined). Complications from her extended illness meant extensive brain damage that led to a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. It would be the first of many, many diagnoses Julia would receive. We didn’t care, we got to take our girl home and we knew we’d figure out the rest along the way.
Turns out, the best way to find your way is to find others walking the same path. And finding the sweet Loveland family was such a blessing. In 2014, I was dropping off Julia at the medically complex daycare center Kelson and Juju both attended. Kelson had some sort of an incident on the way to school (toddlers are unpredictable-medically complex toddlers are REALLY unpredictable) and Becky was changing him. Despite the fact the classroom was really closer to a hospital environment, it was just so wildly refreshing to find another involved mom who “got it.” We have loads and loads of supportive family members and friends, but you don’t “get it” unless you’ve lived it. The unending anxiety that is supplemented by the most joy for the most mundane acts can feel pretty unique to parents of medically fragile kids.
What we didn’t expect what that those two non-verbal cuties would develop their own unique little friendship. “Brother man”, as Kelson was frequently called, would really turn on the charm when Juju hit his radar. Squeals, giggles, and flirty side-eyes abounded when they were in the same room together, and he often had to be reminded to be “soft and gentle” when giving her a big smooch. They loved to be as close as they could get to each other, and it was just a delight to see. I’ve jokingly introduced myself as Kelson’s mother-in-law over the years, which has resulted in some pretty strange looks, especially from a complete stranger at the nail salon wearing a “Bub’s Run” shirt a few years ago.
In addition to their sweet friendship, Becky and Juju’s dad, Pascal, share a love for all things running. Juju cooperated a bit better in tagging along with her dad, but there were countless overlaps in this passion for adaptive athleticism that kept us together, and of course led in part to the founding of Bub’s Run.
When Kelson left this earth to go to his Heavenly home, we grieved the loss for their family, but I’ll always wonder how much Juju understood. What was clear, however, was the full body joy she’d light up with when we would wish Happy Birthday, or Merry Christmas, or Happy Easter to her best guy. She knew he was still with her.
This past January, we said the hardest goodbye ever, as Julia joined Kelson on January 31, passing peacefully in her sleep. One of my first texts was to Becky and another medical mama, and you better believe Becky was on my doorstep two days later, loaded up with snacks and supplies. She’s the person I text when I’m not sure if what I’m feeling is normal, because I know she “gets it.”
On May 2, almost exactly three months after Julia left us to play in Heaven with Kelson, we were overcome with emotion while pushing Julia’s memorial chair through Bub’s Run. Decorated with all of the things she loved the most, it was the very definition of bittersweet. Devastated that she is not here with us, but delighted that she is reunited with her best guy. As my son said, “Now they can be a couple again.”
Thank you, Loveland family and the extended Bub’s Run family, for celebrating our sweet girl in the most meaningful way. We love you so very much. You get it.
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Thank you for asking, and for allowing us to share the story of the precious friendship behind those wings 🩷💙
