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Meet the CommunityYou are not alone. The entire FA community, also known as the FAmily, is taking this journey with you. Meet a few of our dynamic people with FA below. New Meet the Community interviews are posted every Monday, so be sure to visit often. Please e-mail info@curefa.org if you would like to be interviewed for a Meet the Community post.
The FARA Ambassadors are a group of people living with FA who are committed to supporting FARA in the search for a treatment and cure. They represent the community by speaking at events, meeting pharmaceutical partners, giving media interviews, and more.
Name: Christopher Robin Brian Halstead
Age: 19
Where do you call home? Douglas, Manitoba
Who do you live with? My grandpa and grandma
How long have you known you are living with FA? I think I was 15 years old, maybe 16.
Describe your transition from walking to walker/wheelchair: I now use a walker and I have a wheelchair for long walks if I need. I also got two chair lifts added to my home, one for my room and one for my front door.
Name: Andres De Vita
Age: I’m 30 years old.
Where do you call home? I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Who do you live with? I live with my mom, my dad, and my sister.
What's a typical day for you? Work at home making physical activities (ex. Kinesiology, Crossfit)
How long have you known you are living with FA? It all started when I was 7 years old. In a gym class, the professor ordered us to jog. That's when he realized that I was tripping too much. After long years of failed diagnoses and resorting to many doctors, at the age of 14, I was diagnosed.
Name: Fredson Nascimento de Santana
Age: 43
Where do you call home? I was born and live in Antônio Gonçalves, a small town in the countryside of Bahia State, in the Northeast of Brazil.
Education: I have a degree as a teacher’s assistant.
Who do you live with? I am single and live with my parents.
What is a typical day for you? After I finish breakfast I open my little computer store. I work in my parents garage doing personal computer maintenance.
Name: Chrysanthi Zouva
Age: 37
Where do you call home? Athens, Greece
Education (degree(s): My academic journey began with a 4-years bachelor’s degree in Geology and Geoenvironment from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Due to my scientific curiosity, I continued my studies in an MSc and afterward at a Ph.D. level related to Environment and Development, linked to the Spatial Decision Support System at the National and Technical University of Athens. The range of my studies, combined with my expertise and passion will give me the opportunity to move a step forward in the research of FA in my country.
What's a typical day for you? Every morning I start my day with therapeutic swimming or gym or training with my handbike. Later I usually stay at home, cooking or working at my laptop.
How long have you known you are living with FA? I was diagnosed at the age of 20, certified by a DNA test, but my first symptoms began at the age of 17, after instability issues.
Are there any others with FA in your family? No, just me...
Name: Esteban Luis Grieb
Age: 44 (How time flies :)
Where do you call home? I live in Steyr, Upper Austria/Austria/Europe but I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Education: Well, I graduated at our commercial high school (HAK)
Who do you live with? Enjoy living alone in my accessible flat here.
What's a typical day for you? OK … I’m retired so I have enough time for me and my favourite things to do. Every day I wake up at 7 … Then I meditate, doing my exercises, do physical therapy, watch sports like basketball … Basketball is my love and keeping physically active in general is the most important thing in my life. I’m obsessed with being active.
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