Learning to live within your physical limitations is challenging, especially when the list is constantly growing because of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and its ever-progressing symptoms. Lately, I’ve felt trapped in my body, imprisoned by the notion of “can’t.” I’ve been adapting to and planning my life around…
My Darling Disability
— Kendall Harvey
Kendall Harvey is a wife and mother of two in Austin, Texas. She has been navigating life with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) since her diagnosis in 2013 at the age of 25. She worked in marketing before “retiring” to be a stay-at-home-mom. She is an optimistic warrior fighting for a better future free of FA. Until that day comes, she aspires to inspire others with her column by detailing personal life lessons about grit and grace. Kendall shares a message of hope despite disability.
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My family, including my parents, recently took a grand vacation. We started in West Yellowstone in Montana, where we watched a juvenile black bear hunt a squirrel, swim across a river, dig for grubs in a downed tree, and relax in the sun. We also saw waterfalls, canyons, thermal pools,…
Last in a series. Read parts one and two. Since our family was complete and the pregnancy chapter of my life was done, I decided to reclaim my body and focus on physically fighting Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). In May 2018, I was communicating with a clinical…
Second in a series. Read part one. In 2013, when I was 25 and newly diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), the only activities that were no longer safe for me were running and wearing high heels. That was all going to change, and my list of inabilities…
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…
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