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…
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
Even when things aren’t perfect, there is still joy
I’m a firm believer that life should be celebrated. I love decorating the house for holidays, birthdays, the first or last day of school, and anything else that provides my family with an excuse…
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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…
How My Disability Influences the Way My Children Daydream
I am blessed to be Mom to my 6-year-old son, Brooks, and my 3-year-old daughter, Collins. I am also disabled. I use a walker because my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) symptoms have progressed to…
A Springtime Perspective on What FA Has Given Me
I love springtime in Texas, and all that comes with it: baseball season, wildflowers, rodeo season, longer days, warmer sunshine, home projects, live music at local restaurants, and more. Everything feels happier and more…
How I Learned to Shine Rather Than Whine
I recently heard an interview with a local high school principal about the message he is sharing with his staff and students during these unprecedentedly hard times of COVID-19. In response to the…
The Battle Between Taking Care of Myself and Letting FA Ruin My Life
The most unexpectedly disruptive symptom of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) has been fatigue. When I was diagnosed with FA in 2013, my initial research focused on the big symptoms, such as loss of balance…
On Good Days, I Fear the Sleeping Friedreich’s Ataxia Giant
Now and then, I will have a “quiet spell” with my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). I will notice that I haven’t fallen in a while. I haven’t noticed any new problematic symptoms develop. I will…
It Takes a Village to Live With Friedreich’s Ataxia
I admit I didn’t fully grasp the meaning of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” until I became a mother. I bring it up because recently I saw…
