“Either it’s welding you together or the opposite. In our case, it welded more together. If you experience something like this and you can share it with each other, it’s all the more beautiful.”
Christian Kenk
Hi, I’m Christian, avid bird-watcher and physically disabled. My ailment is a generalized dystonia. As a result, I have strong uncontrolled movements, but they don’t stop me. My mind works, my will is there to participate in life. Together with Bernd I can pursue my “hunting fever” for birds, observe them, listen to their voices and identify them. Together we like to be out, in the nature, but also in the cities. We are happy to talk to others, overcome barriers and tell of us. “You see the buzzard, but you don’t see the wind.” That’s how it is. There are things that you can’t explain yourself and that you can’t understand. Sometimes you can live with difficult things more easily if you don’t keep questioning them and take them exactly as they are. They cannot be changed. I try to do this as often as I can, sometimes I don’t succeed and I fight and quarrel with destiny. But I keep trying to get up and move on. Sometimes a bit to fly, like the birds. Just take It easy, even if it’s not easy. Bernd and I have been friends for over 25 years. We got to know each other when I was in a children’s clinic and he was doing his civil service there. We became friends – and have remained friends to this day. Despite my disability, despite resistors. A lot has made our friendship stronger. A lot of them challenged. I think we’re both grateful to have a person you’ve gone through thick and thin with and who knows you down to the last detail. A level of trust that, despite my disability, keeps giving me confidence. In the meantime, I have had a “deep brain stimulation” done. Let a so-called “brain pacemaker” be implanted. This pacemaker blocks the uncontrolled movements somewhat through electrical impulses and I feel better today, even if I still need just as much help, I am not happy to have to fight with my body like that anymore. I regained some control. Lucky, not just for me.
Luckily, I have a largely self-determined life, I can pursue my hobby, spend time with my friends, decide for myself when to eat and when to go to bed. Everyday things for others, for me a pleasure to have this possibility.