Ohio native Elizabeth Hamilton felt her world flip when her younger daughter’s health unexpectedly declined. It took six hospitals in five different cities and three states to obtain the diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia in 2020. A licensed social worker, Elizabeth believes that relationships are a healing force, and most problems can be solved if you have the right tools and the right people. Life takes unexpected turns, so we must take a moment to reexamine where we are and recalibrate.
It’s January, and despite the gray skies overhead and the lingering chill in the air, I feel a little more motivated to tackle the mundane tasks left on my to-do list. I’m starting with…
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My daughter Amelia, age 12, almost missed being diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) because of me. I think about that sometimes when I need reassurance that I’ll put Amelia’s needs before mine…
Summer is here! In our home, that means fun things like trips to the pool and sleeping in. It also requires us to constantly be careful about the temperature in our house and keep…
From the moment I moved out of my childhood home, traveling became a passion of mine. It wasn’t just about seeing new places or tasting unique cuisine. (Well, maybe food had a little to…
I have two children who are incredibly different. One is outgoing, and one is shy. One likes to go with the flow, and the other came into this world with strong opinions. One has…
I love to travel. Being able to pack up quickly and go is something I value. It’s also a skill I’ve fostered in both of my daughters, Katherine, 14, and Amelia, 12. They’ve been…
During a recent layover at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, I learned some unexpected news about an upcoming pediatric clinical trial for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), the disease my 12-year-old daughter, Amelia, has.
The pig was supposed to fly, but fear was holding her back. One summer night several years ago, I was watching the movie “Sing 2” with a child tucked under each arm. Both of…
“I know you!” The stranger’s surprise utterance greeted me at the elementary school of Amelia, my youngest daughter, who’s now 12. It happened years before she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA).
The smooth, yellow rivets on the school bus caught my eye as it pulled up to pick up my 11-year-old daughter, Amelia. How often had I stared at them and not seen them? Then…
“It’s not accessible enough.” That thought passes through my mind regularly as I look at the world. Not because of my younger daughter, Amelia, who has Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), but because of my…
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