My Darling Disability - a Column by Kendall Harvey

I love springtime in Texas, and all that comes with it: baseball season, wildflowers, rodeo season, longer days, warmer sunshine, home projects, live music at local restaurants, and more. Everything feels happier and more vibrant. This year, springtime feels different. We had a historic and catastrophic snowstorm at the end…

I recently heard an interview with a local high school principal about the message he is sharing with his staff and students during these unprecedentedly hard times of COVID-19. In response to the pandemic, he said we can either “rise and whine or rise and shine.” How profound and…

The most unexpectedly disruptive symptom of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) has been fatigue. When I was diagnosed with FA in 2013, my initial research focused on the big symptoms, such as loss of balance and coordination, heart failure, loss of speech, and severe scoliosis. I read the word “fatigue”…

Now and then, I will have a “quiet spell” with my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). I will notice that I haven’t fallen in a while. I haven’t noticed any new problematic symptoms develop. I will be relatively pain-free and somewhat energized. I will have some days, weeks, or even a month…

I admit I didn’t fully grasp the meaning of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” until I became a mother. I bring it up because recently I saw a meme that said, “So, these villages that it takes to raise babies … do you…

The word “pity” has a pretty negative connotation. I don’t know many people who seek pity or want to be pitiable. I certainly don’t aim to make people feel sorrow for my misfortunes. Yet, as I’ve become increasingly disabled by Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) since publicly announcing my diagnosis seven years…

My healthy, rambunctious, and handsome 6-year-old son, Brooks, started his second flag football season this month. He scored two touchdowns this weekend, and I was beyond proud of him. He is such a hard worker who continually amazes me. Kendall Harvey with her son, Brooks, at…

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a cruel, relentless, lifelong battle. It can make good days hard and bad days intolerable. When people tell me I am “inspiring” or ask how I remain so positive and happy in the face of FA, I am always baffled, and usually fumble my answer.

The Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) community has been abuzz with excitement recently. The first two phases of a clinical trial sponsored by Reata Pharmaceuticals showed that the oral therapy omaveloxolone (RTA 408) is safe and led to improvements in some participating patients. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…

Over the holidays, we spent time with family that we don’t see regularly. I get so wrapped up in my own excitement to see my loved ones that I often forget that they haven’t seen me in a while. Or more specifically, they haven’t seen my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) symptom…