Kendall Harvey is a wife and mother of two in Austin, Texas. She has been navigating life with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) since her diagnosis in 2013 at the age of 25. She worked in marketing before “retiring” to be a stay-at-home-mom. She is an optimistic warrior fighting for a better future free of FA. Until that day comes, she aspires to inspire others with her column by detailing personal life lessons about grit and grace. Kendall shares a message of hope despite disability.This week marks the seventh anniversary of writing for Friedreich’s Ataxia News under the banner of “My Darling Disability.” I’m humbled by the thought that my words have impacted even one life in the…
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As I begin 2025, all of my planning, expectations, projects, and so forth are through the lens of this awareness: This is the year I’ll start using a wheelchair full time. Knowing this…
Life isn’t easy for anyone. Every person must trudge through hardship and struggles. Whether it’s a temporary sadness like illness or injury, seasonal hardships like a breakup or career setbacks, or even battling a…
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In my journey with progressive Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), I battle a wide array of symptoms. While increasingly poor balance seems to be my most disruptive and frustrating symptom, it’s not the one that…
I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) at the age of 25. What led me to that diagnosis was a quest for answers about why I was losing my athletic abilities. I was…
Life is full of teachable moments, which are opportunities to share one’s experience, wisdom, and advice. When I became a parent 10 years ago, I anticipated being confronted with countless such opportunities. But I…
Guilt is a plight of the human condition that comes in many forms. I wrestle with it often. One common form, for example, is “mom guilt,” a topic that inspires countless books, articles,…
As I’ve grown more physically disabled with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), I’ve developed a new ability: knowing quickly how to address a stranger’s concerns about my disability. Whether it’s a curious child inquiring…
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