Massachusetts-based Jean Walsh was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia 40 years ago at 19 years old. She shares a different perspective through which she wishes society would view disease.

I’m sure this is true with any rare disease, but you just get worn out and tired of explaining your disease to people. But if you don’t explain it, then how are people going to know? It’s kind of a double-edged sword.

So my life would be so much easier if I didn’t have to explain, and if people just accepted the fact that having a disease is not abnormal. Disease and disability are part of the human condition. So a rare disease is not abnormal because 1 in 10 people have them.