How Progress Is Measured
I intentionally fell off the treatment table. A metallic taste filled my mouth as I thudded onto the matted floor with a crash, looking less like a superhero…
Little Victories — Matthew Lafleur
Louisiana native Matthew Lafleur’s life isn’t what he expected following his 1994 diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare and debilitating disorder. Instead of giving up, he obtained degrees in English and mental health counseling. Unable to find a job after grad school, he applied to write a column at Friedreich’s Ataxia News. Years later, he now serves as the Associate Director of Patient Engagement for that site’s parent company, Bionews. Through his column and his role in patient engagement, Matt hopes to elevate the often overlooked voices of the rare disease population. We are not victims. We matter.
Featured Post
‘Almost FA-mous’: The sky’s the limit for FA awareness
I recently watched “Almost Famous,” a comedy film from 2000 that portrayed the fictional story of a music journalist and a rock band that longed for recognition. I didn’t expect the movie to remind…
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The Night That Jeremy Cowart Made Us Feel Seen
I have no idea what I’m doing, I thought as I turned my head from side to side in an effort to provide the photographer with a variety of angles…
The Half-life of a Bradford Pear Tree
Many trees stand stoically on my family’s property, one of which I pass each time I ride my recumbent trike. I take notice of its bark and branches more than I have…
A Heart Like a Rabbit
Moist, squelching sounds filled the otherwise silent room as the sonogram of my heart was being conducted. I was lying on my left side on the slim hospital bed, at…
A Functioning Mind in a Malfunctioning Body
I have a confession to make: The part of my Friedreich’s ataxia diagnosis I used to be most grateful for has now become something I question. Is it a good…
Alternative Treatments for Friedreich’s Ataxia: Cupping and Me
It wasn’t a comfortable feeling. With every press of my physical therapist’s tiny handheld pump, the edges of a small plastic cup seemed to pinch my skin a little more…
Is Friedreich’s Ataxia a Form of Muscular Dystrophy?
No. Thank you for reading this week’s column. *** Just kidding! I want to unpack that question, because it is a valid one. Plus,…
Moving Past Unrequited Love
“It’s just hard to be around you,” she told me. She looked down. She hated these harsh words, too. Over time, I’d learn to accept them and even be grateful…
Growing Into Life With a Disability
I opened the door to my closet yesterday morning to pick out my shirt for the day. Most of my shirts are solid earth tones, showcasing how boring I am.
Hurricane Laura Barely Missed Me
I don’t believe I’m a lucky person. But I’m relieved that the area where I live escaped massive devastation from Hurricane Laura, which made landfall in the southern U.S. last week. …
Learning to Confront the Mysterious Villains in Our Lives
I’ve been thinking a lot about whodunits lately, those stories with a masked villain who is finally revealed at the end of the tale. From slasher flicks to…
When a Rare Disease Treatment Comes Out, but It’s Not for You
Aug. 7 was a big day. Some groundbreaking news came out in the rare disease world: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment for…
