Jacob Peterson | Boston Marathon
The lunchroom in high school was terrifying. I’d take my tray and try to find a seat, hoping that I could find a spot before my jerking muscles led to me dropping my lunch in front of everyone. I lived with that fear every day.
Dystonia, a rare and often debilitating neurological disorder, robbed me of control over my body. It affected every part of my life, even things I used to love. I could no longer stand still on stage when performing with my chamber choir, where I used to have solos—I hated anything that made me the center of attention, forget about public speaking. Even something as simple as lunchtime was a daily source of stress and anxiety (beyond your typical teenage lunchroom politics).
Today, over a decade later, I’m on the other side of my fears. Now I’m preparing to run my tenth marathon: Boston.
This hasn’t been an easy journey. I still live with dystonia (there is currently no cure), but after years of different treatments and medications which either didn’t work or left me feeling out of it, I decided to go a route I had previously considered too extreme: brain surgery.
I had electrodes implanted in my brain, which connect to a battery in my chest, a procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). When the device was turned on, it was like magic—I had my body back.
I’ve always been a runner, and my dystonia didn’t change that. I’m lucky. Many dystonia patients can’t walk, let alone run. By the time I got my DBS procedure, I was already a marathoner, but I took my surgery as a challenge, and ran my seventh marathon only three months after my device was turned on. I want to use my tenth marathon, Boston, as a challenge for more than just me: I’m challenging you to support the critical work of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) on behalf of individuals living with dystonia.
Your support can help provide:
- Programs of support for families navigating the challenges of this condition.
- Accurate, up-to-date information about dystonia treatment.
- Continued research into better treatments and a cure.
Running Boston has always been a personal goal, but it’s a goal I didn’t always know I’d be able to achieve. If living with dystonia has taught me anything, though, it’s shown me that I can do challenging things, both on and off the marathon course. I’ve gone from being afraid of having peoples’ eyes on me to being proud to speak up and motivate my Minnetonka cross country team as a coach.
This April, in Boston, I want to make my race mean even more by running for those who can’t. Every donation—big or small—will make a difference and bring us closer to a world where dystonia is no longer a barrier.
Thank you for joining me on this journey and for supporting such an important cause. Let’s make every mile count together!
With gratitude,
Jacob Peterson
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