Yesterday was the three year anniversary of Elaine getting conned into being my girlfriend. While it falling on a Tuesday wasn’t ideal, we decided to make the most of it…starting out with me accompanying her to get a small medical procedure done. Nothing says romance like a deathly pale face and a look of terror in the eyes.
While we did a bit of celebrating in the evening – dinner at a restaurant we’d always wanted to try and a cocktail – it will probably be the medical procedure and the recovery time that is most memorable.
Elaine now lets me look after her when she’s feeling fragile and likewise I let her care for me when I’m struggling to function with my MG. While we are opposite ends of the spectrum in some regards, we’re alike in that allowing ourselves to be vulnerable doesn’t come naturally. Yet, in the last year, I’ve allowed Elaine to wash and tend to me while recovering from a thymectomy and she’s allowed me to nurse her while recovering from surgery for a cyst. Neither of us are nurses by nature, but we enjoy looking after the other precisely because we know it’s a rare privilege bestowed only on the worthy.
Looking back at our three years together, two and a half of which I’ve had myasthenia symptoms, Elaine has been an absolute rock every step of the way. She has provided laughs when desparately needed, asked questions when I’ve not had the strength, provided hugs on tap, compliments and reassurance when I’ve felt like nobody could possibly be attracted to me and most of all, a kick up the arse if I’ve appeared to be slumping into self pity.
As we sipped our gorgeous cocktails in the red light of the Arts Theatre Club last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I can’t wait for another three years with this beautiful woman.
365 days of myasthenia 
Congrats!