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.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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Second in a series. In a previous column, I discussed my active childhood and early signs that something wasn’t right. As the evidence began to pile up, I started to accept that someone who has been…
First in a series. From the time we are toddlers, we start dreaming about the future. We want to be firefighters, teachers, rock stars, race car drivers, or in my case, a zoologist. So many exciting possibilities…
I recently began participating in a 48-week, Phase 2 clinical trial for Friedreich’s ataxia. The way I understand it, the study’s investigational treatment is designed to make the cells in my body that are damaged by FA…
The first time I ever heard of Friedreich’s ataxia was the day I was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 at the age of 25. To say I was in shock is an understatement. I was scared, overwhelmed,…
Friedreich’s ataxia causes a wide array of symptoms. Every FA patient experiences the disease differently. For me, fatigue is a major symptom. Before I experienced FA, I thought I understood what “fatigued” meant — being really tired.
Since my 2013 Friedreich’s ataxia diagnosis, the condition has consumed a part of every day. I was prepared for the physical changes that would come with FA, but the mental and emotional stress has…
In Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) care, we don’t really have treatment options. There are clinical trials taking place to work on treatments and hopefully one day, a cure. But until then, we are left at the mercy of…
Editor’s note: This post includes images of a bone break that may be disturbing to readers. For some time now, I’ve needed to use a walker (or another mobility aid). My physical therapist, Kelli, has been encouraging…
Almost everyone can point to moments in their lives dictated by the choice: fight or flight. By definition, the fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. Friedreich’s…
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