As a child I did various sports, gymnastics, and all kinds of outdoor activities. I had a very active childhood! I began to notice something was 'off' about me my junior year of high school. I needed to hold on to the rail when going down the stairs at school to keep my balance. I didn't think anything of it, and neither did anybody else. So I just ignored it, thinking it was a phase and would go away, and went on with my life.
A few years later, though, my symptoms started to get worse. It became more difficult to do the things I did as a child, like simply run. My walking also became less straight and more scattered. I started to become concerned and in 2004 went to the doctor. He did a little exam on me, observed my gait, and requested I have an MRI. And so I did. The MRI showed my cerebellum to be at a smaller capacity than should be. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls muscle movements as well as motor skills. This is how I was diagnosed with ataxia. The doctors ran blood tests on me and both my parents. Neither of them have ataxia. However, the blood tests showed them both to have the recessive genes. This is how it became known I have hereditary ataxia. This means I was born with the condition, but onset was later in life for unknown reasons. I am just thankful to have had a 'normal' childhood.
i think one of the things that makes it hard on us is that we remember how easy these things were for us,they came naturally and we didnt have to work so hard. we didnt have these difficulties our whole lives.
ReplyDeletewell i think it woulda been harder had my symptoms started when i was little bc i would have not been able to do the things other kids were doing. so im thankful i got to experience those things. As and adult, my support group is better so i get help with the things i cant do as well.
ReplyDeleteand you have an amazing friend Holly that just makes life awesome!!!!!
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