How FA Has Affected My Parenting Abilities
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) has changed so much about who I am. The physical effects have changed how I think, act, feel, and relate. Some of the changes are good, some are bad, and others…
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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Celebrate the good things in life, even when hardships mount
Life has not been easy lately. On top of the constant daily struggles with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and its various symptoms that I must adapt my life to accommodate, hardship has surrounded my…
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Approaching Everyday Problems as Opportunities for Growth
One of my favorite books to read to my children is “What Do You Do With a Problem?” by Kobi Yamada. In it, the book’s main character suddenly finds himself facing a problem.
My Main Friedreich’s Ataxia Symptoms, Visible and Not
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a cruel diagnosis in several ways, and those ways seem to frequently morph, multiply, and momentarily take over my life. When I first started to learn about FA and my…
What I Hope My Kids Will Inherit From My Life With FA
I fell head over heels in love with my husband, Kyle, when I was 16 years old. By 18, I knew I would marry him. Then it came time for college, and though we didn’t…
I Am Not My Disability
During the Fearless Mom 2022 conference in February, I learned about an interesting phenomenon from keynote speaker, clinical psychologist, and consultant Dr. Robi Sonderegger. According to Sonderegger, the English language is one…
I Have a Love-hate Relationship With My Mobility Aid
Have you heard the expression that “There’s a fine line between love and hate”? The idea is that there’s so much passion required for every all-consuming emotion that things could easily tip from love…
Reminding Myself to Focus on the Positive
Focusing on the negative aspects of life always seems to come more naturally than focusing on the positive ones. Whether we like it or not, bad things have a way of taking center stage…
An Open Letter to My Parents
It’s one thing to go through a hardship yourself, but it’s another thing entirely to watch a hardship happen to a loved one. As a parent myself, I know how parents feel any pain…
Following These 3 Rules Enables Me to Live Well With FA
During actor André De Shields’ Tony Awards acceptance speech in 2019, he shared his three rules for his longevity: “One, surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you coming.
