Heading Into an Uncharted Season With Friedreich’s Ataxia
This week marks the end of the school year for many schools in my area, and therefore, the beginning of summer. I was recently chatting with a large group of friends, whose children are…
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…
Read more
I’m Handling My FA Progression by Making Intentional Accommodations
As my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) has progressed, I’ve had to make adjustments to accommodate new symptoms. Since my 2013 diagnosis, I’ve had to intentionally account for countless modifications every day — step by…
Overcoming Mother’s Day Guilt as a Mom With Friedreich’s Ataxia
As Mother’s Day approaches, I can’t help but pause to reflect on what this holiday means to me. I love celebrating my mother. Not only did she give me life, she gave me a…
The Friedreich’s Ataxia Obstacle Has Become the Way
Since Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) entered my life in 2013, I have spent a lot of time blaming it for getting in the way of the life I had planned. I would no longer…
Both Big and Little Moments Define My Life With Friedreich’s Ataxia
Life is made up of moments — big and small, good and bad, expected and unexpected. Some argue that life is defined by the big moments, while others say it is defined by the…
When Real Life Collides With My Virtual Friedreich’s Ataxia Updates
Since my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) diagnosis in 2013, I have chosen to openly share my journey with this progressive, degenerative disease. I share updates about both the physical and emotional changes in my…
Adventures in Shopping Without the Usual Aid of My Walker
Last weekend, a situation I dread as a mobility aid-dependent person happened: I drove to a store to run a quick errand, and when I opened the back of my SUV, my walker wasn’t…
As a Parent, My Emotions Are Complicated by Friedreich’s Ataxia
Parenting is such a roller coaster. It can thrill and fulfill you, and in the same breath, overwhelm and scare you. Life with kids is full of precious, proud, and funny moments preceded or…
I’m Thankful for Friends I Met Before and After My Diagnosis
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) changed every aspect of me — the emotional, the physical, the spiritual, and even my personality. Pre-FA Kendall was very different from FA Kendall. I can categorize my friends into those…
