With Friedreich’s ataxia, it’s always something
As we navigate life, I think we’ve all felt, said, or at least heard the common saying “It’s always something.” I find myself saying that as a somewhat sarcastic self-challenge, meaning I still need…
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
How a different perspective offers lessons to learn
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) can feel incredibly isolating. I’m fairly certain that rings true for most people going through life with a rare disease. Because FA is so rare, affecting only about 1…
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Despite my fears, my family and I enjoyed our spring break road trip
This year, my family and I decided to take a road trip from Austin, Texas, to two national parks in New Mexico during my elementary-age children’s spring break. It involved about 20 hours of…
Being called a warrior when I feel like anything but
There’s a lot that comes with the territory of having a visible disability, especially if you choose to live your life out loud rather than hide. I never imagined I’d have to make that…
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…
Facing the inevitable in life with FA, despite my best efforts
At the beginning of my journey with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), when my balance, coordination, and associated abilities were starting to decline, I felt like everyone was watching me. Because I’d decided to be…
The lifetime evolution of my definition of strength
What pops into your mind when you hear the word “strength”? I’m guessing that your answer will be based on the people around you. Anyone who was a child in the 1980s and ’90s…
How people of different ages tend to react to my mobility aids
As my battle with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and my progressively diminishing physical abilities — primarily balance, coordination, dexterity, and energy — wages on relentlessly, I’m forced to adapt. While I’m used to depending…
The necessity of strength for FA’s inevitable mobility issues
People often speak about the strength it must take to be a young person living with a progressive neurological disease. While I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) at age 25 and have…
Thanks to my village, I don’t have to navigate FA life alone
I’m frequently asked how I handle the relentless progression of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) with a smile on my face. My answer is simple: I don’t do it on my own. Without the support…
