On a Roll With Annahita of Achilles Boston and Her Journey with PHARC
By Dr. Annahita Forghan
Imagine being famous without anyone knowing who you are and just getting all the attention wherever you go, without having to work for it. One step out your own door, or walking off the plane in a different country, it doesn't matter, people will stare. I'm a doctor. I'm a performing musician. I'm a traveler, a competitive athlete, a loving girlfriend, and an international volunteer. I'm not well known, though.
Most of my neighbors don't even know my name, yet still, I get lots of looks when I leave my apartment.
It isn't because I'm pretty – well, that might be one reason according to my love, Adam. I get stares because I have different abilities. I can't walk the same way most people can. I need a cane. I still limp and fall a lot. I can't hear the way most people can. If the battery dies on my cochlear implant, I am deaf. I can't feel vibrations as well as most people. My vision isn't great. My peripheral nerves are dying (not my brain or spinal cord, so I can keep those).
I have a very rare genetic condition that is similar to Multiple Sclerosis. It’s called Polyneuropathy, Hearing Loss, Ataxia, Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Cataracts (PHARC). It's progressively killing my nerves and weakening my muscles. I have no support, no awareness and the doctors don't know my prognosis. But we know exercise helps. So I can't afford to stop exercising. I'm just doing it in other ways.
I am living a happy life.
I joined Achilles Boston in 2012 when I was a college student. I had been a long distance runner since my youth and envisioned being one through old age. I saw myself crossing finish lines with white hair and a wrinkly smile. That all changed when I received the results of my genetic test and found out why my running was getting slower in January 2020.
I never thought my ability to run would end while my heart was still fit and while I still craved extreme workouts and competitions. Now I can't even lift my feet enough. It crippled me emotionally for a while.
Fast forward to today and I’m still competing strong together with my boyfriend Adam, who I first met as an Achilles volunteer guide. I'm now handcycling and he’s running. He’s an elite level runner, but I can now push him enough to hear him breathe faster!
Our awesome Achilles Boston Chapter Lead Joe LeMar encouraged me to give handcycling a try.
Many of my doctors knew I'd find a way to keep being an athlete. I'm a doctor and I could've said that to myself, but it took time to find the motivation. The Achilles team saved my life. My Achilles friends got so excited about my handcycle when they learned about it and wanted me to pace them as I cycled! I still sometimes forget that I won't be running. I'll be handcycling. I forget when I'm asleep at night, dreaming that I'm racing top runners on my legs. It's beautiful how we can dream about what we lost or what we wish we had. It’s as if our brains are letting us keep it at least while we're asleep. Thank you Achilles Boston for giving me new dreams as I changed abilities. Like my incredible Adam tells me, "Just change the goal post!"
Achilles International has breathed life and love into so many people. We're all so different, with so much to give. I'm honored to be able to share a piece of the impact Achilles has made on my life.
Annahita is a member of Achilles Boston. Help support Annahita and other athletes living with disabilities today by making a donation. All gifts made by December 31 will be matched up to $50,000.
