Bachelor Nation’s Joe Amabile is celebrating a major milestone after having brain surgery.
The Bachelorette alum, 40, completed the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, just 88 days after going under the knife to remove a blueberry-sized tumor in his left frontal lobe in August.
Amabile documented his achievement via his Instagram on Sunday with a video of himself at the marathon finish line holding his completion medal. “88 days ago I was waking up from brain surgery. Today, finishing the New York marathon,” he said in the inspiring clip, kissing his medal.
The reality star later uploaded a carousel of photos and videos from the day, including a sweet clip of his wife, Serena Pitt, overcome with emotion as her man crossed the finish line.
“WHAT A DAY! My worst time yet and my greatest accomplishment at the same time,” Amabile wrote in the caption.
Pitt, 29, commented, “I’ll never forget today 🫶🏽 you inspire me and so many around you!!”
Pitt also posted an Instagram video from the marathon, documenting herself and former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe cheering Amabile on from the sidelines.
“I can’t even put into words how proud and inspired I feel today! AND how happy I am that it’s over!” the Bachelor in Paradise alum wrote in the caption. “@joeamabile1 your motivation and positive mindset has never faltered even through this incredibly challenging season of life. To watch you cross the finish line only 88 days after brain surgery was an indescribable feeling. You are my hero and I love you so much 🫶🏽.”
Last month, Amabile confirmed exclusively to Us that he planned to run in the NYC Marathon just three months after his brain surgery.
“Having brain surgery is, kind of, out of your control and having a brain tumor is something that’s out of your control, so to give myself a goal that gave me control back just made me feel like it was important,” he said. “I just kept my mindset positive.”
“I didn’t think I was retired from running marathons, but then I was like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna do it again this year, three months after I had brain surgery,’” the former grocery store owner told Us. “The feeling I will get when I cross the finish line, I’m sure will be greater than both marathons, even though I’m gonna run it slower.”
Amabile also gave Us an update on his recovery from surgery.
“Recovery hasn’t been, as you would imagine, the easiest, but overall, I’m doing good,” he explained. “I mean, the beginning’s the toughest because you’re on a ton of pain meds and you’re in a lot of pain. For the first week and a half, when I would move and stuff, there would be a squishiness in my head, which would really freak me out. When I would sit down, too, if I sat down too aggressively, I would hear movement in my brain.”
