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.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…
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I recently wrote a column detailing my initial thoughts about the latest chapter in my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) story: the process of accepting that I need to transition to a wheelchair. This…
The Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) transition I have dreaded for over a decade is approaching, and I am beyond overwhelmed. Despite my best efforts, adaptations, precautions, hopes, fears, and routines, I think the…
I’ve heard and read so much about the topic of fear, yet I still wrestle every day with my own fears related to Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). I fear for both my present and…
Like many Americans, I recently got caught up in the Netflix docuseries “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” I love it for several reasons, but mostly because I’m from Texas and have a…
I’ve noticed that one-liner advice tends to stick with me, such as “Treat others how you want to be treated” or “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”…
As with most vacations, I knew I’d be in for a lot of walking when we took our children to Boston this summer. That meant I had to think about which mobility aid…
Stumbles, accidents, and falls come with the territory of many physical disabilities, especially ones like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) that impair balance and coordination. Although my falls have become less frequent since I…
I knew in my bones that something wasn’t right with my body. I wanted nothing more than to find out what was happening, understand why it was happening, and learn what I could do…
I don’t know if it’s self-preservation or just my personality, but I’ve become quite the creature of habit. Lately I’ve noticed that when I’m separated from my habits, I either thrive or shut…
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