Michael mtcName: Michael S Pelletier

Age: 57

Where do you call home? New Haven, CT

Education: GED

What is your relationship status? I am Divorced. I was married for 15 years and have 3 children. I currently have a girlfriend. I live alone. Help comes for me in the morning.

What's a typical day for you? I wake up around 11:00-12:00. Then I eat breakfast and exercise with weights. Help comes and cleans the house and I go for a walk. I am looking for a new apartment. I am usually up until 1:20 am.

How long have you known you are living with FA? When I was 30 years old I was given a blood test which is when I found out.

Are there any others with FA in your family? Yes, my younger sister and youngest brother had FA. My sister passed away in 2017 at 53 due to FA. My brother passed away a month later at 49 due to FA.

Michael mtc 2Describe you disease from walking to a walker/wheelchair. At about 35 years old I started using a cane. About 2-3 years after I moved to a Canadian crutch for 8 years, then used a walker for about 1 month. Then went to a manual wheelchair, which I am still using.

What do you like to do to stay active and what type of exercises work for you to stay strong? I use 20-pound dumbbells and do 3 sets of 10 on one side then switch to the other side. I also do wheelchair pushups 6 sets of 25 per day.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests? I love to color, it calms me.

What is a good trick to make daily life easier? Music keeps rhythm inside my body. Music is like medicine to me.

When FA gets you down, what do you think/do to feel better? I go do something nice for someone else. It makes me feel like I have a purpose.

What is one way living with FA has POSITIVELY affected your life? It has helped me to stay functional as long as possible.

Michael mtc 3What is a favorite motivational quote of yours? Yes, I can. Can't means won't and won't makes you lazy.

What is a piece of advice that someone with FA has given you that encourages and inspires you? Alex and Sam are the first people I've met with FA.

What is the best advice YOU could give to a person who has been newly diagnosed with FA? Don't ever give up......ever.

What is the first thing you want to do when a cure/treatment to FA is found? Pop a cork on a bottle of champagne.

"I have FA but FA doesn't have me." What does this statement mean to you? How do you live your life in the face of adversity? I will never ever give up. I don't know how to quit. I live in the right now. I believe that adversity can be turned around.

Tell us a little more about you: I'm easy going, easy to get along with. I love listening to music except for rap and heavy metal. I like to read as much as I can.

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