When life takes an unexpected turn, one can only embrace the change and move forward, making the best of the new situation.
In 2014, Marija Macri was pregnant with her third child and went into early labour because of a stressful incident. She gave birth while her second child, 18-month-old Marc, was in another unit at the same hospital, fighting for his life after one of his many seizures.
Ms Macri says her life has been full of challenges since Marc's birth, who was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. But, she says she wouldn't change it for the entire world, as he taught her what real courage and persistence are.
So she's now preparing to honour him in the best way she knows – by running.
Marc (in the middle) with his brothers Source: Marija Macri
"I always liked running. It's what we do in our family. My father, Stevce Georgievski, was one of the best athletes back in the 70s in Macedonia (then part of Yugoslavia), and he still holds the five km record he set back then. I don't know any other way; I wouldn't choose any other way; running is my way of expressing how much Marc means to me," she tells SBS Macedonian.
She is an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance's STEPtember and is preparing to run 70 kilometres non-stop, doing 70 laps around her block.
"It's not just the physical strength, although that's one very important part of this journey. I eat special foods and do a lot of mental work and preparations. I'm totally aware that the brain has to follow the body's power in order for fear and doubts to not jump in. So I set my objective around my son Marc, and I'm determined to go until the end for him," says Ms Macri.
During the lead-up to her ultramarathon run on Sunday, she has been intensively training and finished her non-stop 60km run two weeks ago.
Her father, Stevce Georgievski, who is a national record-holder athlete, is by her side every step of this journey. Though he admits he is scared because of the 70km distance that his daughter is aiming to run, the fact that he is going to be with her every moment helps put his mind at ease.
"Maria trains and prepares hard, I am always by her side with advice, and knowing what kind of fighter she is, I am sure she will succeed," he says.
For Ms Macri, her father is the inspiration behind taking up the challenge.
Stevce Georgievski on the athletics track Source: Stevce Georgievski
"In 1996 he wanted to run 70km as well, starting from Brighton Le Sands to Wollongong. But he was all alone, so he stopped somewhere in between and came back. When we measured the distance, it was around 70km. So yes, no matter how scared he is now, I'm just following his steps," she says.
During her primary and high school in Australia, Marija was actively involved in the athletics, having her father as her coach, a very successful one, she says.
"I was winning awards, and I loved athletics. Then I became a teenager, and as it usually happens - the world of sports shifted to the world of friends. But now I know better now, I know more. Now, even after completing the 70km challenge, I will not stop running. I will continue challenging myself, challenging my bravery and strength so that I can become the best version of myself for Marc."
Ms Macri says Marc loves to dance even though he is a wheelchair user, where he chooses to focus on the positive aspects of his character.
STEPtember
September 27 is the day when Ms Macri will spend approximately seven hours, running non-stop to cover a distance of 70 km. Hoping to raise donations and awareness about people fighting cerebral palsy, she is very optimistic that with the development in treatment, Marc may run like his mother and grandfather one day.
"I refuse to believe that this is it, that this is how Marc's and our lives will be forever. I want to believe that one day, my son may run a marathon just like me and that I will be by his side, supporting him, just like my father is doing it now. Everything is possible when you believe it."
STEPtember is a fundraising event during the month of September for raising funds for children and adults with cerebral palsy. The money raised goes towards vital equipment, research, therapy and services for people living with cerebral palsy.
