Defining Yourself - a column by Jean Walsh

Last week, I had a bump in navigating my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) road. The wheelchair I use because of my FA symptoms went offline. I use a Whill C2 wheelchair, and I love it. I’d love not needing a wheelchair a hell of a lot more, but a…

While attending a recent Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) symposium, I tried, as I always do, to take in the science. I’m grateful that the annual symposium, held by the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and the Friedreich’s Ataxia Center of Excellence at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, always moves…

I recently went to Philadelphia for rideATAXIA, a fundraiser bike ride benefiting the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). The event was followed by a symposium focused on summarizing the current research on new treatments and a potential cure for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), as well as helping…

Saturday, Sept. 21, was a sloppy one. Skies were gray and rain poured down, but there were lots of smiles to go around. It wasn’t an ideal day for the Race for Matt and Grace, a 5K run and 1.5-mile walk to benefit my patient organization, the Friedreich’s…

I just got back from a walk with my service dog, Wendy. It’s a beautiful fall day in my neighborhood. The mums are starting to burst with brilliant colors, and some of the trees that are a little stressed are developing orange leaves. I had a different topic in…

I just began the process of getting my legacy service dog. A legacy dog follows a current service dog and is super important for those who rely upon these animals for independence. I need a service dog because symptoms of my rare disease, Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), have…

When doing patient advocacy, I’m frequently asked, “Tell me your rare disease story.” My initial response is to sigh on the inside. Why the sigh? After all, I’m fortunate to have been given a platform to advocate for myself and my disease community. But one reason is because I internally grapple…

During a recent drive home from an appointment with my new primary care physician (PCP), I felt a dark cloud dissipate that I didn’t even know was hanging over my head. The sun was shining, and I sang a couple of stanzas along with the car radio. It was my…

Back-to-school season is almost here again. I see advertisements for it everywhere. Kids want clothes with sharks on them, teachers want kids with calculators, and parents want new backpacks (for their kids). Here in New England, the climate changes as fall approaches. The days are getting shorter, the nights are…

I recently read a column by my colleague Ben Hofmeister for Multiple Sclerosis News Today. He wrote that, for him, disability pride is about celebrating the advocates who came before us and who made the Americans with Disabilities Act possible. He also made the point that…