My Darling Disability - a Column by Kendall Harvey

First in a series. As I continue my journey with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), I’m frequently asked questions such as: “How long have you been going to physical therapy?” “When did you start the clinical trial?” “How long have you depended on a walker?” It seems that people…

Many NFL fans around the world were shaken on Jan. 2, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, there has been much talk about a rare condition called commotio cordis, which is caused by trauma to…

Happy New Year! I love to use January to reflect on the previous year and picture the possibilities for the new one. I won’t go so far as to set unattainable goals, but I do believe the changing of the calendar year is a lovely time to define some intentions…

I often write about perspective because I think it’s vitally important to intentionally maintain a healthy, well-rounded perspective when going through daily life with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). FA is daunting and can quickly overwhelm us when we focus on the degenerative aspect of this lifelong genetic disease. We can…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…