Name: Jack Tyson
Age: 28
Where do you call home? Tampa, Florida
Who do you live with? My wife and two dogs
What are some of your interests or hobbies? Watching football, traveling, trying new food and drink!
What is your education? Bachelors degree in Actuarial Science from Ohio State
When were you first diagnosed with FA? 1.5 years ago
What are some life hacks that you use daily to make life easier living with FA? Grippy socks and relying on friends and family who care when needed.
What has living with FA taught you? My progression is not incredibly severe yet so I am always incredibly thankful for all that I do have and try to take advantage of what I do have.
What advice would you give to someone who has been newly diagnosed? Always stay positive, control the controllable, friends/family/community will be more kind, understanding, and helpful than you think.
What is something that you are struggling with now that you haven’t in the past? I can still walk but I am not playing sports, limited hiking, always having to be mindful and careful of how treacherous or slippery the ground might be when I go somewhere new.
What is one way living with FA has positively changed your life? Realizing how many people are kind and helpful when I need it (seeing that I walk funny or if I fall)
“I have FA, but FA doesn’t have me.” What does that statement mean to you? There is so much more to me than just FA, that disease doesn’t define any of us; we all have interesting and unique characteristics and experiences beyond FA.
What is a favorite inspirational quote you remember? “No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.” – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Interview by:
Michael Gambino