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In an instant, my plans and dreams vanished; I was left wandering through life with no set future, and it was scary. I can remember parts of that day in ’97: hopping onto a swiveling chair at my dad’s workplace, logging on AOL before…

I often have conversations with others about the mindset and positive outlook I attained while dealing with this illness. Although I realize this may be temporary and my attitude might change — as it has before — I’ve truly recognized that there are low phases that I…

Birthdays used to be so fun for me. Now, though, they are just reminders that this disease is taking over my physicality slowly. While I have a positive attitude most of the time, I can’t help but think of my progression on each birthday since my diagnosis…

Last month was Mental Health Awareness Month, so I thought this might be a good time to discuss this issue head-on. Some days can be harder — way harder — than others. Every single person on earth has problems and horrible situations they deal with throughout their…

It’s been tough lately. Just when I thought there was a light at the end of my depression tunnel, it got dark again, and I found myself having to start over. Many things attributed to my downward spiral, including the end of a relationship, being responsible for breaking…

Following my Friedreich’s ataxia diagnosis in June 2015, one of the first things the doctors told me was that I would progressively lose my ability to live independently and that I would need assistance in almost every aspect of life. The diagnosis alone was already a lot to…

Almost everyone can point to moments in their lives dictated by the choice: fight or flight. By definition, the fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) patients have to choose to fight every single day.

Part of the advocacy realm that I truly enjoy is the opportunity to travel to new places and speak to different groups of people. At the beginning of March, I had two speaking engagements in Baltimore, Maryland. The flight from Los Angeles was five and a half hours…

When I was a little girl, I used to have this recurring fantasy every so often in which I was Queen of I don’t even know what, with all these helpers who did my bidding all day, every day. I loved this fantasy. Life was so much easier…

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a big, overwhelming disease. And with it being so rare, it can feel very isolating. My immediate family and I had never even heard of FA until my diagnosis in 2013. When we started telling family and friends about this disease, my aunt remembered seeing a…

I’m going out on a limb here to talk about one of those controversial issues that tend to get skated around a lot in disabilities communities: voluntary euthanasia (VE), also known as physician-assisted suicide. Last year, I met someone who was severely disabled by an accident. I found…

Friedreich’s ataxia is physically challenging, but the mental aspect is often extremely debilitating as well. People are either afraid or unwilling to discuss their true emotions while dealing with such a serious illness. No matter how much you want to keep to yourself, you must know that whatever…