Columns

I am the proud mother of two darling young children. My son, Brooks, is 8, and my daughter, Collins, is 5. To make December even more magical, they still believe in Santa Claus. I was recently laughing with a friend as we discussed the ridiculous lengths we have gone…

“Should I tell my young child that he/she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia?” Though solemn and heartbreaking, that question is not uncommon. At least three times a year, it’s asked in FA forums and online groups, and debate follows. It reminds me of my own childhood diagnosis of…

Hardships are a part of the human experience. Everyone has gone through or is going through something they’d rather not face. We don’t get to choose the struggles we encounter; we can only choose how we respond. For many people, that involves sharing — talking to friends and loved ones…

Making free “lemonade” at a restaurant is popular with penny-pinching college students, even though it may be legally dubious. Or maybe it’s popular because it’s dubious. Here’s how it works: Step one: Order a glass of water with lemon slices. Step two: Mix the water, lemons, and a few packets…

With Thanksgiving just days away, I’ve been participating in many exercises in which I’ve had to mention things I’m thankful for. This is a familiar routine this time of year. As I’ve aged and Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) has progressed, however, I’ve noticed that the list of things I’m…

With Thanksgiving approaching, my family and I have been talking about what we’re thankful for. My 5-year-old daughter, Collins, is thankful for adorable things like her cat named Banana, our swimming pool, her school playground, horses, and of course, her brother, Mommy, and Daddy. My 8-year-old son, Brooks, is thankful…

Thanksgiving is an important holiday in the U.S., and as it’s just over a week away, it’s sparking many ideas for writing topics. (If you read my last column, you know I appreciate all the help I can get with content ideas.) November feels like the start of the…

What do election years and Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) have in common? A lot more than you’d think. Let me explain. As I’m writing this column, it’s midterms election week, so it’s very front of mind, just as FA has been for me for the last nine years. This got…

As I was getting ready for breakfast a few mornings ago and listening to a shuffle of random songs, I recognized one that I hadn’t heard in years: “No Hard Feelings” by The Avett Brothers. For the first time in quite a while, the opening ran…

Battling a degenerative disease, especially one so rare that most people haven’t heard of it, can be a lonely journey. Even our closest friends and family members, who know us better than anyone, can only imagine and sympathize, as they don’t face the same physical struggles. Unless you have…

I rarely have the foresight to make a note about something I want to write about. Instead, I often sit and stare at a blank document. While sitting and staring, I replay the experiences I’ve had over recent weeks, trying to identify something interesting to dig into. Although I never…

The effects of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) are vicious, relentless, widespread, and undeniable. FA uses my own body to slowly defeat me physically. The disease has taken away so much from me and given me a lot of hardship. I guess you could say that by many definitions, I am…