Fighting FA — Frankie Perazzola

Religion and spirituality have always been tricky subjects for me. I was raised in a traditional Italian and Catholic household where baptisms, communions, confirmations, and the rest of the sacraments were highly celebrated. I was pushed to attend Mass every Sunday and holiday, and to volunteer or serve…

The endless lockdowns and life-altering changes we’ve experienced due to the global health crisis have shown the disabled community that society is capable of becoming accessible. Everyday jobs can be done at home, grocery delivery is prioritized and encouraged, and restaurants and shops are willing to…

Because I’m involved in the disability community on social media, I’ve learned a lot about language and other disabled people’s preferences. Common topics of discussion include both ableism and internalized ableism. Both of these “-isms” are extremely important to address within the disability…

It’s hard to believe this is the last column I’ll be writing in 2020. I am looking forward to somewhat of a fresh start with the new year coming in. No matter the circumstances, I truly enjoy Christmastime with my family. However, that may not…

With the holidays approaching, it is a popular time to look back on the year and reflect on life. It’s safe to say that we all have had one of the strangest years ever. No matter where you stand on the political or religious spectrum, the world…

I tend to focus on self-reflection and growth in my column, “Fighting FA.” I love having the ability to look at previous columns and pinpoint exactly where my headspace was at the time. Doing this validates a generous amount of growth, gently nudges self-reflection, and offers…

Because I’m transparent about my life journey with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), questions about my approach to fitness are inevitable. Some may think it’s ego-driven and naive to think that fitness is an answer to dealing with a neuromuscular disease. But people just have trouble fully understanding what…

This September, I participated in a social media campaign to raise awareness for ataxia. Those who participated had to post a photo every day that corresponded with the prompts on the graphic below. The graphic was created by a woman named Amanda. She has…

Oh, selfies! What a wonderful way to waste time, learn the best facial angles, and finally get a good picture of ourselves, because the ones we are tagged in usually misrepresent us completely. Ha-ha. As I stood in front of the mirror the…

I recently adopted a mixed beagle and Chihuahua named Albert. He is 10 years old, and I got him from a local animal care organization. During the process of adopting him, I was excited and looked forward to my new position as a dog mom.

One of most difficult aspects of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is thinking I don’t deserve any good that comes my way. Being diagnosed with a progressive illness convinced my brain that I would never have the life I imagined. It wouldn’t be worth it to figure things out…