Name: Aidan LeCompte
Age: 23
Where do you call home? Louisiana.
What is your education? What is a current goal you have with your education? I’m currently doing school online pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Education. I’m most interested in teaching religion in a middle/high school setting.
Who do you live with? I live with my parents and two younger siblings.
What’s a typical day for you? When I’m in school, that often takes up a good bit of my time between that and work. I also try to read every night before bed. I read a lot of commentaries on biblical texts. I also really enjoy classic children’s literature.
How long have you known you are living with FA? When and how were you diagnosed? I was diagnosed almost a year and a half ago in July of 2023.
Are there any others with FA in your family? I am the only one in my family who is diagnosed.
Describe your transition from walking to walker/wheelchair. My neurologist had recommended that I start using a walker assistance around the time of my diagnosis. I didn’t take her advice until I had a pretty bad fall. Now, I use a walker when I’m out of the house if I’ll be walking a lot.
What do you like to do to stay active and what type of exercises work for you to stay strong? I have a stationary bike that I use regularly and I’m in and out of physical therapy as needed.
Do you have any hobbies or special interests? Most of my hobbies are creative. I enjoy drawing, writing, and creating music. I also really enjoy good stories (through book or film).
What is a good trick to make daily life easier? Laugh a little and read yourself a bedtime story.
When FA gets you down, what do you think/do to feel better? I try to get out my head and engage the moment. It does no good to worry about what I can’t control, so it’s better to try to find happiness and satisfaction where I am right now.
What is one way living with FA has POSITIVELY affected your life? It challenged my outlook on life and forced me to sort my priorities. There are matters of consequence and things that are insignificant. Pain or suffering forces us to evaluate those categories.
What is a favorite motivational quote of yours? “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” -John Watson
What is the best advice YOU could give to a person who has been newly diagnosed with FA? Life isn’t easy. Nobody’s ever is. Suffering does not make us unique; it makes us human. Each of us is presented with the decision of how we will respond to our suffering. We may not have control over how our suffering affects our physical bodies, but we alone have the weightier task of determining how it will impact our souls. Fire can consume or refine.
What is the first thing you want to do when a cure/treatment for FA is found? Run, jump, and do a little dance.
How do you live your life in the face of adversity? I have learned to find hope in difficulty. They are a means of growth. Our trials bring us to the end of ourselves and to the feet of God. If my every suffering will reduce my trust in myself and increase my trust in the One my soul loves, then I am delighted to suffer. It’s never easy to remember in the moment, but it comes as a helpful reminder in troubled times.
What is your favorite part of your education or work/career? I work as a cashier in a store. Being very extroverted, making friends tends to come naturally to me. I’ve come to value the relationships that I’ve formed with people. I’ve come to realize that no matter how introverted or extroverted people are, everyone wants to feel seen and heard. The people I get to interact with from day to day are the most wonderful part of working for me. Cashiering may not be all that profound, but you never know who you can impact or be impacted by no matter where you’re standing.
What is your favorite movie or book? My favorite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery. Its timeless lessons have informed many of my thoughts in life. My favorite movie is called The Adventures of Petrov and Vasechkin, Ordinary and Incredible.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would love to live in a country in Eastern Europe for a year or so. I don’t think I would live there permanently, but I would love to experience another culture long enough to acclimate and not just be a tourist.
Are you a night owl or an early bird (do you prefer staying up late or waking up early)? I’m very much a night owl. There are so many wonderful things to do and interesting things to think about at night, so I have a hard time going to sleep.
Interview by
Brendan Halverson