Written by Elie Gelman
Miriam Greenfield stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon. It wasn’t just the physical challenge that scared her but everything this hike symbolized. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and thyroid cancer three years later. Greenfield was also dealing with a series of physical injuries, including a torn ACL along with a stroke. But as she readied and focused on hiking up the trail, she remembered the words of a pararescue jumper she once interviewed: “Just take little steps. When you look back, you’ll realize how far you’ve come.” That phrase has helped her through some of her darkest days, and it was helping her at that moment.
For over a decade with media outlets such as ESPN, Miriam has been telling the stories of others – stories of bravery and triumph over adversity. From Make-A-Wish children to Special Olympic athletes, Miriam has spent her career telling stories that inspire. But what she didn’t realize when she started this journey was how much these stories would help personally.
In 2009, Miriam met Anna Schmidt, a 13-year-old awaiting a heart transplant whose wish was to meet the Green Bay Packers. Miriam not only helped make that wish come true but also stayed connected with Anna over the years. Seven years later, when Miriam was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was Anna who offered words that became a life lesson: “It’s okay to fall down, but you have to get back up and keep moving.” Those words resonated deeply with Miriam and became her motto while in recovery. “Any time I struggle,” Miriam shared, “I think about that advice. It’s okay to break down, but you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Miriam’s work has always been about more than just storytelling. It’s about connection. Whether working with Special Olympic athletes who overcame bullying or veterans rebuilding their lives after injuries, she has found inspiration in each person she’s met. One veteran’s story stands out in particular: after losing his leg in Afghanistan, August O’Niell focused on small victories: getting out of bed, walking a few steps with his prosthetic leg. His approach to life matched Miriam’s own philosophy during her recovery: celebrate the small wins and trust that they’ll add up to something larger.
These relationships have not only shaped Miriam’s perspective but also helped her with her own struggles with her own mental health. “I’ve learned it’s okay to be vulnerable,” she said. “It’s okay to be messy and honest about what you’re going through.” This openness has changed how she tells stories today. Once unsure about revealing her emotional well being, Miriam now sees this as her superpower.
Today Miriam is the director of communications at Winooski School District outside of Burlington, Vermont, and a director/producer for the Vermont Lake Monsters. Here, she continues to use storytelling as a tool for connection and change. She is also mentoring young storytellers through programs such as Maccabi Media. As part of this initiative, she will guide 18 students in journalism, broadcasting, and content creation during the Maccabiah in Israel in July. Her role includes supervising video production, photography, editing, and sports reporting while fostering a positive learning environment. Miriam hopes to inspire the next generation of storytellers to find their own voices. “The people I’ve met along the way have helped me so much,” she said. “If I can help someone else through my story or theirs, then I’ve done something meaningful.”
Elie Gelman is a Broadcast & Digital Journalism major at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Email Elie at elieigelman@gmail.com and connect with Elie on Linkedin.