My story with Friedreich’s Ataxia (4 of 4)
Hello amigos!
At 18, when I came of age, I had to leave CHEO to “stand on my own two feet”. Since CHEO only treats children, I had to accept the fact that I was one, despite being 5 feet tall. It was quite a slap in the face, as they say! I think this transition deserves an article of its own, because there’s so much to say on the subject! But to make a long story short, CHEO was a place where I could go once every few months to see my neurologist, my cardiologist, my orthopedist, my physiotherapist, my occupational therapist, name it, all at the same time. Once in adulthood, it’s different. None of my doctors are in the same place. Now I’m collecting hospital cards in my wallet!
Well, I’ll try to fit the last 6 years of my life into a few lines. I intend to write other articles that go into more detail about these parts of my life. But in a nutshell: I started using my wheelchair regularly to get around, I do physiotherapy at least 1 time/week 52 weeks/year, I did my CEGEP in cinema, I did my B.A. in communications, I became an ambassador for a foundation (Make-A-Wish Eastern Ontario) after my dream came true (I won’t tell you what it is … I’ll let the suspense hang! ), I’ve been a federal public servant for 9 and a half years, I’ve taken MAGNIFICENT trips to different countries, I’ve been to shows in industrial quantities, and it goes on and on and on! Phew, no wonder I get tired sometimes!
Over the years, my roommate Friedreich’s Ataxia has become more and more a part of my life. If at first I only used my wheelchair for long-distance journeys, today I use it to tilt myself back just a metre. So, yes, my abilities have really diminished a lot… but honestly, my mental health is on the up and up, and there seems to be no end in sight!
A lot of people tell me I’m so strong! But that’s not necessarily true. Yes, I’m strong, but I think it’s the people around me who are strong and who push me to be strong! If I had one piece of life advice to give to anyone, it would be to surround yourself with people who see the glass as half full and not half empty. We don’t want them in our lives! Pi we shouldn’t try to prove anything to them either! If they’re not ready to embark on life’s adventure with a smile… it’s sad, but we have to cut those ties that drag us down!
Like all good stories, I’m going to end mine with a good old “and she lived happily ever after”. Because yes, I intend to live as happily ever after as I am right now.
Dominique