The Daily Risk Analyses of ‘What Can’t I Do Anymore?’
My family and I went to Tulum, Mexico for Thanksgiving. We love to travel on Thanksgiving because, to us, the most important part of the holiday, and any holiday, really, is to spend time…
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.
Featured Post
Accepting my reality with FA while striving for a better future
So much of living with a progressive, lifelong disease like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is mentally processing and accepting the physical changes it brings. But with the widespread degeneration of my body and the…
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The Parallels Between Living With FA and Riding My Trike
After I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) in 2013, I was desperate to make a positive difference in my future with the disease. That search led me to rideATAXIA, a nationwide program…
I’m Not Alone in Carrying the Burden of FA
In my opinion, one of the worst things about living with a disability is feeling like a burden to others. Although I am the one going through the progressive degeneration of my abilities…
What Friedreich’s Ataxia and Motherhood Have Taught Me
When Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) came into my life in 2013, I thought all the hopes and dreams I’d held would be wiped out. I planned on being a fun and adventurous wife and,…
Recalculating the Path of My Life with Friedreich’s Ataxia
If life with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) were charted through a GPS navigation system, it would constantly say “recalculating.” The relentlessly progressive nature of this disease affects all areas of my life, both expectedly…
I No Longer Let Fear of the Future Control My Life With FA
The first thing I experienced after my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) diagnosis in 2013 was fear for my future. I remember reading words like “wheelchair-bound,” “terminal,” and “average life expectancy of 35.” That meant I…
Boldly Moving Forward, Even With Friedreich’s Ataxia
Last weekend, I had an old experience in my new, disabled body. I went to a wedding. Most of my friends are in the “married and having babies” phase of life, so I haven’t…
Friedreich’s Ataxia Forces Me to Be a Spectator Mom
A big part of my experience as a late-onset Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) patient is the disease’s impact on my role as a mom. My life is action-packed from the minute my busy 6-year-old son…
Learning to Grow Through What I Go Through With FA
A few weeks ago, I fell and fractured my foot. The recovery process, thankfully, hasn’t been too painful. It has, however, been unexpectedly emotional. The truth is, I am not at all surprised…
