Born and raised in New Jersey, I relocated to Florida shortly after I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA). Being diagnosed over twenty years ago, it was imperative that I chose to deal with things as they come, so future expectations would not hinder me from living a meaningful life. Every person’s future is unknown to them, regardless of FA, so one day at a time is a very important life philosophy to embrace.

Life, as I knew it, began to change a few years after graduating from high school. I began questioning things going on within my body. I could no longer go down the stairs unless I was holding onto a railing, nor could I walk and converse with my friends at the same time. I was intensely focused on my walking, and it became obvious to me that other people did not have to actually focus on such tasks.

After numerous appointments & tests with different specialists, those two life changing words were added to my vocabulary: Friedreich’s Ataxia or FA for short. I was diagnosed with this inherited neuromuscular disorder at the age of 21. Being told there was no cure or any type of treatment for this condition, and that it is progressive, my emotions were all over the place, as you could imagine. I remember being tormented with images of wheelchairs, as that was not the future I had seen for myself. But, at the same time, elated that there was a real reason for what I was experiencing and I was not going crazy. I just could not believe that I had to watch my body slowly stop working without being able to do anything to prevent that from happening.

In the beginning of 2013, a few of my 3-wheeled ataxian cycling buddies and I decided that we needed to do a milestone ride in our recumbent trikes. I had heard of a bike ride called the Hotter than Hell Hundred from numerous people who had done it in the past. With over 14,000 riders participating every year, it makes the Hotter N’ Hell Hundred the largest sanctioned ride in the US. Participants come from virtually every state and many foreign countries for this grueling day in the sun to ride either the 100 mile, 100k, 50 mile or 25 mile route. It is held in Wichita Falls, TX, 9 days before Labor Day every year. Over 15,000 gallons of hydration fluids and ice, truckloads of fruits, pickles and cookies, and thousands of volunteers make this ride happen for the cyclists. I proposed the thought to my friends of doing the 50 mile route and we all agreed it was the perfect ride to do!

The Ambassador group is thinking of our friend and fellow Ambassador Tom Trovinger today and wishing him a speedy recovery. We can't wait for Tom to be back in our meetings; cracking sarcastic jokes and putting smiles on all our faces.

Read Tom's bio here.

So the topic of the day is how do I use the arts and creativity to help with Friedreich's Ataxia? Well I do so in many ways.

I have been drawing and painting from such a young age that I do not even remember. I did a lot of painting in my early twenties then for some reason put down my brushes. It was not until the summer of 2012 that I met a local artist that would inspire me more than I ever thought imaginable. His name was Bill Correira, otherwise known as BC Woo. Not only was he an amazing artist but just so happened do be a huge supporter of FARA! He had painted at the past two FARA Energy Ball events in Tampa. It was like it was meant for us to meet.

Where I live, in St. Petersburg, FL, we have a weekly art meet up outside where artists gather to create, share ideas, and inspire each other. We paint, draw, sculpt, anything, and just hang out together for a good time. I had gone as an onlooker for a few weeks until Woo got me talking and he found out I used to paint. Mind you, I had not held a paint brush in over 6 years, but he managed to convince me to pick one up again and told me I never stopped being an artist . I then spent a few days a week with him at his gallery just hanging out and painting again.