Meet the Community

Name: Pam Shortt

Age: 35

Where do you call home? Ontario, Canada

Relationship status? Do you have children? Married for 13 years and counting. We have one nine year old son.

Occupation/Employment: I stopped working 10 years ago. Now I am a stay at home wife & mom which is busy, busy, busy!

Education: I graduated in 2000 with honors as a Registered Nurse.

How long have you been living (or known you are living) with Friedreich's Ataxia? I started having balance and gait issues around 15 years old. Certainly made high school more interesting! It was obvious that there was something not quite right but doctors put it down to me being a klutz. At 19, in nursing school, we were studying the nervous system and practicing performing neurological exams. I failed! I went to a neurologist and he knew it was Friedreich's Ataxia. I was sent for countless tests & finally diagnosed via genetic testing.

Name: Abby Y

Age: 19

Where do you call home? I live in a small suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Education: In the fall, I will be returning to York College of Pennsylvania as a sophomore undeclared student. I am exploring my options of being a Recreation and Leisure major with a therapeutic concentration. I want to have a career where I can work with people who have physical disabilities!

Occupation/Employment: Along with being a student, I have a work study position as a desk attendant, as well as a summer job at Michael’s Arts & Crafts as a cashier.

How long have you been living (or known you are living) with Friedreich's Ataxia? When I was nine years old, my mom noticed that my left foot was turning in when I walked. I was sent to a neurologist who diagnosed me with Charcot Marie Tooth. It wasn’t until I was thirteen that I was sent to a cardiologist, due to experiencing dizziness, that he suspected something different was going on. Meanwhile, my youngest brother began showing similar characteristics. Finally, when I was 16, both my neurologist and cardiologist sent us to Dr. Lynch. After genetic testing it was confirmed that my brother Chase and I have FA.

Name: Jason Drake

Age: 26

Where do you call home? Franklin, Virginia

Relationship status? Do you have children? No (but quite a few nephews!)

Occupation/Employment: Farmer

Education: High School and some college.

How long have you been living (or known you are living) with Friedreich's Ataxia? 10 years; I was diagnosed in 2004 through blood work.

Do you have any known family history of Friedreich's Ataxia or similar symptoms? No.

Describe your transition from walking to walker/wheelchair. I was walking independently until I was 21; then I started using a walker to help me get around for a few years, and now I use a wheelchair about 80% of the time.

Name: Christin Haun

Age: 43

Where do you call home? Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Relationship status? Do you have children? Divorced, no children.

Occupation/Employment: I do not work anymore.

Education: AA in Psychology and BS in Special Education. Alma Mater: Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OKlahoma.

How long have you been living (or known you are living) with Friedreich's Ataxia? 29 years diagnosed with FA. I was diagnosed initially by my orthopedist that recognized the correlation between scoliosis and unusual gait patterns. His hunch was confirmed by a neurologist.