Columns

Thanking my dad for the best advice I ever got

Like many people dealing with traumatic medical problems, I vividly remember when I was diagnosed. For me, that happened before they had even identified the Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) gene, so I had to endure lots of difficult testing. Today, the FA gene is identified through a blood or…

Happy 7th anniversary to ‘My Darling 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 Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and broader rare disease communities, and I plan to continue to honor…

Being content in the face of FA and other adversity

I recently saw a short YouTube video extolling the importance of accepting that life is bittersweet. In this acceptance, we can become content. If you’ve been reading my columns, you’ve heard me say that I’m happy. I’ve been careful to say that I’m happy overall, not happy every moment.