Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021

Adventures in Shopping Without the Usual Aid of My Walker

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

Last weekend, a situation I dread as a mobility aid-dependent person happened: I drove to a store to run a quick errand, and when I opened the back of my ... Read more

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021

As a Parent, My Emotions Are Complicated by Friedreich’s Ataxia

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

Parenting is such a roller coaster. It can thrill and fulfill you, and in the same breath, overwhelm and scare you. Life with kids is full of precious, proud, and ... Read more

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Rare Disease or Not, Only I Can Define My Success

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

I’m approaching what can easily be labeled the midpoint of life for the so-called average person. Of course, such averages rarely take rare disease into account. But even without the ... Read more

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021

I’m Thankful for Friends I Met Before and After My Diagnosis

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) changed every aspect of me — the emotional, the physical, the spiritual, and even my personality. Pre-FA Kendall was very different from FA Kendall. I can categorize ... Read more

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

I’m Learning to See Myself as an Ataxia Warrior

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

I’ve never thought of myself as especially strong, or as someone who could identify with a warrior’s personality. Because I face the progressively debilitating disorder Friedreich’s ataxia, I sadly realized ... Read more

March 22, 2021March 22, 2021

How My New Approach to Spirituality Helps Me Cope With FA

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

Religion and spirituality have always been tricky subjects for me. I was raised in a traditional Italian and Catholic household where baptisms, communions, confirmations, and the rest of the sacraments ... Read more

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021

As Parents and Caregivers, We Can Find Beauty in Life With FA

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

Welcome back! I wish we could have this conversation face-to-face over a cup of coffee. For now, we’ll have to settle for this virtual space, where we can connect in ... Read more

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021

How My Disability Influences the Way My Children Daydream

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

I am blessed to be Mom to my 6-year-old son, Brooks, and my 3-year-old daughter, Collins. I am also disabled. I use a walker because my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) symptoms ... Read more

March 17, 2021March 17, 2021

A Snowman in the South: Facing Rare Disease and Other Unlikely Events

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

“I never thought I’d see this,” I thought, looking at the surreal scene outside my van’s window. Snow-covered yards and roofs on familiar houses in my hometown were remarkable to ... Read more

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Embracing the Awkward Moments That Come With FA

Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

“Can you send help up, preferably a gentleman?” I asked as I lay on the cold tile floor, mostly motionless and without clothes — only a wet towel. Although my ... Read more

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021

How Disability Accommodations Have Improved During the Lockdown

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

The endless lockdowns and life-altering changes we’ve experienced due to the global health crisis have shown the disabled community that society is capable of becoming accessible. Everyday jobs can be ... Read more

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021

A Springtime Perspective on What FA Has Given Me

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

I love springtime in Texas, and all that comes with it: baseball season, wildflowers, rodeo season, longer days, warmer sunshine, home projects, live music at local restaurants, and more. Everything ... Read more

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021

How Thinking Differently Saves My Life

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

One and one always equals two, at least that’s how most people see it. Sometimes simple, concrete facts are comforting, especially for people diagnosed with progressive diseases, where we can’t ... Read more

March 4, 2021March 4, 2021

How I Learned to Shine Rather Than Whine

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

I recently heard an interview with a local high school principal about the message he is sharing with his staff and students during these unprecedentedly hard times of COVID-19. In ... Read more

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021

Finding Comfort in a New Normal

COVID-19 Columns, Friedreich’s Ataxia News Columns

“You need to go easier on yourself,” my friend told me. I was busy berating myself for having a bad week when my symptoms of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) seemed to ... Read more