I sometimes feel afraid to open Facebook. I’m curious about how my friends are doing and what they’re up to, so I log in. Beyond many happy updates, however, I also see that some people in my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) community are not doing well or have passed away.
Defining Yourself - a column by Jean Walsh
Before my neurology appointments, I practiced tasks like touching my forefinger to my thumb, forming the “O” of the “OK” symbol. Part of my exam was, and still is, measuring how quickly I can do that repeatedly. I was determined to excel in my neurological exam. Now, I look back…
Late-onset Friedreich’s ataxia is a rare form of the disease that begins after age 25 and typically progresses more slowly. Though symptoms may be milder, it can still affect balance, speech, and daily life.
Walking my service dog, Wendy, in the winter poses quite a challenge. When I take her out, she’s clipped to my wheelchair, which I use because of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). Then she jogs alongside me. Like most dogs, Wendy is thrilled when she knows she’s going out. Wiggling…
On a muggy Fourth of July in Georgia in 1993, my husband, Dave, and I walked along the side of the road, returning to our car after watching fireworks. There weren’t any sidewalks, so I walked on the edge of the road to avoid tripping in the dark while Dave…
Like many of us who get diagnosed with a scary illness, the question of “why me?” ran circles around my head. I chased that voice hard, wondering what I did to deserve Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). The answer I came to and always give that voice in my head is…
When I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) in 1981, I was a sophomore in college. I lived in a newly renovated dorm that was wheelchair accessible, and, naturally, a woman who used a wheelchair lived with us. I did everything I could to avoid her. I remember heading…
My husband, Dave, and I had a tough year in 2023, when Dave lost both parents. Our grief has lessened, but we’re still working through it. At times our ability to grieve was blocked because Dave and his siblings were trying to figure out what each parent would’ve wanted in…
Unsurprisingly, after steering my wheelchair into a wall for the fifth time that day, I found myself amid a temper tantrum. For me, these usually involve yelling curse words at Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), the disease I have. In this particular meltdown, I wanted to ram my wheelchair into the…
Today is another brutally cold January day here in Massachusetts. Both my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and my wheelchair use mean I don’t spend as much time outside as I’d like. Why? FA limits my outdoor time when it is either super hot or super cold. Right now, the…
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