Enkutatash & A Second Chance: A Heat-Stroke and the Gift of Life

Fitsum Habtemariam
Sep 11
3 min read

By Sustainable Communications LLC.

Today, on Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash), I’m double-celebrating what I call “God’s gift of a second life.” The experience has changed my perspective on health, community, and purpose.

What happened

Two years ago, at the 2022 Half-Marathon Race for Peace, I was blessed to place 3rd. (See official award link below.) Last Saturday’s race (9/6/2025) was meant to be another joyful milestone. Instead, about half a mile from the finish line, I suffered a severe heat stroke on a narrow trail where emergency vehicles couldn’t reach.

I was running in a group of six, my besties and brave Spartans. When I collapsed and lost consciousness for roughly 40 - 45 minutes, they did everything possible to keep me safe until help arrived. Because ambulances couldn’t access the trail, I was eventually moved out by golf cart and rushed to the ER.

The long five hours and three days more at ICU

I spent over five hours receiving emergency care between the ER and ICU. I regained full consciousness, but the medical team kept me three additional days at the ICU to stabilize my body, cleanse damaged muscles, and protect vital organs, including my liver and kidneys. Their vigilance and , most of all, God’s grace brought me back!

My gratitude list is long

To my 5 running besties who refused to leave my side: you are the reason I’m here to write this.
To the race volunteers and bystanders who responded swiftly and calmly.
To the EMTs, nurses, and physicians at Medstar Georgetown Hospital whose skill, compassion, and persistence carried me through the scariest hours of my life.
To my family, friends, and our Sustainable Communications community for the prayers, messages, and patience while I recovered.

Thank you. May you be blessed a hundredfold!

What this changed in me

I’ve always believed in purpose-driven work. But “second life” clarity is different:

Health and fitness are the first project! No mission, meeting, or milestone outranks basic wellbeing.
Community saves lives, literally! Individual strength is powerful; collective care is unstoppable.
Slow is still progress! Listening to the body is not weakness; it’s wisdom.
Gratitude is fuel! I’m richer for every person who stood in the gap for me.

Lessons I’m carrying forward (not medical advice, just my lived experience)

Respect heat and humidity. Adjust pace or plans when conditions spike.
Pre-hydrate, fuel, and run with a buddy and make sure someone knows your route.
Learn basic signs of heat illness (dizziness, confusion, cramps) and act early.
Know the course access points and how to reach help fast.
Celebrate finish lines but value safe returns even more.

Why this belongs on the Sustainable Communications blog

Our firm exists to build human-centered, resilient systems - from onboarding workflows to knowledge networks and community campaigns. This incident is a vivid reminder that resilience starts with people caring for people. It’s the same principle behind our work on social impact, SDGs, and community-informed design:

SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being - safeguarding people comes first.
Knowledge that moves - the right message at the right moment can prevent harm.
Communities of practice - shared protocols and quick coordination save time…and lives.

A New Year intention

On this Enkutatash, I’m renewing a simple vow: to do the work with more humility, more care for health, and more investment in the communities that make all good work possible. Melkam Addis Amet to everyone celebrating. May your year be full of peace, protection, and purpose.

Resources & links

2022 Half-Marathon Race for Peace 3rd Place official award: [Official award link]
Photo from race day Sep. 6, 2025: [Meta/Facebook link]

A note from Sustainable Communications

If this story resonates with you or your organization, and you’d like help designing resilience-minded communications from safety messaging to volunteer coordination and crisis protocols - reach out. We’d be honored to co-design solutions that put people first.

Melkam Addis Amet — Happy Ethiopian New Year.