Becoming Dependent Restored My Independence
One of the scariest life changes a patient anticipates upon receiving a diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia is the use of a walking aid. For me, the thought of needing a device to get around in my…
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
It’s OK to find joy in the midst of hardships
Life isn’t easy for anyone. Every person must trudge through hardship and struggles. Whether it’s a temporary sadness like illness or injury, seasonal hardships like a breakup or career setbacks, or even battling a life-long progressive illness such as…
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Respecting My Body Despite Friedreich’s Ataxia
I may not like my body, but I respect it. I often find myself explaining what I mean when I say “I hate my body.” So many people the world over say that all the time. We all…
The Hopes and Risks of Starting a Friedreich’s Ataxia Clinical Trial
When diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, the first things people usually ask are: “What can I do about this? Is there a treatment or cure? Where do I sign up?” Then, we receive more bad news: Currently, there…
When Life Hands You Lemons
“Life isn’t fair.” “No one said this would be easy.” We have all heard these platitudes and we’ve all repeated them. And yes, there is truth in these well-worn phrases: Life is hard, messy, emotional, and unexpected,…
Similarities in Parenting and Friedreich’s Ataxia
At first, I resented having Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) because it hasn’t allowed me to be the mom I always imagined I would be. Now that I have a couple of years of parenting experience under my…
A Friedreich’s Ataxia Explainer
Describing a progressive genetic disease like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is difficult. It has a wide range of symptoms, most of which are unique to FA and not easily understood unless you have firsthand experience or a loved…
How Friedreich’s Ataxia Redefined My Faith
I grew up in a church-going family that was always involved in ministry. We spent at least three days a week at church. I had a sound knowledge of Christianity, the Bible, and what it meant to…
A Physical Therapist Shares Her Perspective on Working with FA Patients
I have been working with my physical therapist, Kelli, for a year and a half. She is brilliant at what she does and has become a dear friend. I am so thankful to have her by…
My Journey to a Friedreich’s Ataxia Diagnosis, Part 3
Third and final in a series. In a previous column, I discussed the tests I underwent to diagnose Friedreich’s ataxia. “Kendall, I was afraid that this might be the case: You have Friedreich’s ataxia.” My doctor looked…
