From the moment he broke me into my parent’s house (with permission!) and was rewarded with puppy prints and fur in his immaculate car, I have been living a love story with MB (Mike Beganyi). And it was my first experience of many for his superhero rescuing tendencies! When dystonia snuck up and declared itself with nonstop shoulder and neck pain and deepening twisties, of course MB was there, supporting me in a myriad of ways.
Sometimes he sees my struggle and gently will grab my head to give me a break from the tug of war with my body. He lends me a shoulder to tuck into when we are out for the day. For photos, he always lets me rest my head on his. If you didn’t know I had dystonia, it would look like affection, but I know it’s compassion. He sees me like no other.
When I woke up from surgery on a pillow smeared with brains and blood, just vomiting my guts out, he was there holding my hand. He brought me romantic dinners to have on the hospital terrace, because he knew how stir crazy I become when locked inside.
MB has continued to specialize in rescuing me over these past 20 years. So when I was cleared to go on trails, I was one part surprised and one part not surprised when MB declared he was going with me.
For some backstory, MB is NOT A RUNNER. Before this year, he had run with me twice in 20 years. I joke he is a ‘sittin’ sport’ kinda guy (translation: he is a paraglider) and he jokes that I am a blur of energy and a little unhinged for how much time I spend on trails. It’s a match made in heaven.
My first trail outing, post surgery clearance, was hill repeats on the Felsenegg section on Uetliberg. There are no cliffs and a gondola if I didn’t want the downhills. Felsenegg repeats are special – you consistently see angels, regardless of religious belief, due to the brutality of the incline that slams into you. MB VOLUNTARILY signed up for this. And suffered. Like full on pain-cave-not-speaking-suffering.
Every weekend, I would pick a trail. Every weekend MB was there. I would watch him trying to collect himself hanging on his poles. And he was relentless in pushing both distance and vertical. I asked him why he was doing this to himself. And his reply – ‘I want to be there for you esp if you need something in your recovery. And it’s an excuse to get in shape.’
I’m still humbled by his support and his superhero commitment to loving me. All of the adventures I live are possible because of MB showing up and doing a million things behind the scenes. From taking on cooking and grocery shopping (both are literally my dystonia kryptonite), to trail support to learning neck massage techniques from my physio.
My deepest love and gratitude MB. Your love gives me freedom in my dystonia. You are truly a real-life superhero and everyday I am thankful to share a love story with you.