Hope For Ataxia
RAISING ATAXIA AWARENESS GLOBALLY
  • What Is Ataxia
  • About
    • Meet The Team
    • Our Story
  • What We Do
    • Campaigns
    • Global Ataxia Support Group
    • Online Community
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Store
    • Volunteer
  • Blog
  • Contact
Ellie Cammack

Ellie Cammack – We Are Precious

Blog, Faces Of Ataxia Acquired Ataxia, stroke

Read on to learn more about Ellie Cammack. Ellie has Acquired Ataxia and is the administrator of the Ataxia & Fitness Facebook group.

Ellie Cammack

I was diagnosed with Cerebellar Ataxia at 24 – I had a massive stroke during an Ironman triathlon training swim which left me with Ataxia. The stroke was primarily in my brainstem and cerebellum; the damage to my cerebellum is what caused my Ataxia and various other conditions: right hemiparesis, aphasia, right side blindness – cover one eye if you’d like to know what it looks like -, foot drop, and spasticity.

Prior to my stroke and subsequent Ataxia, I maintained a busy life working as an Operations Manager for a project management company, training regularly, and planned to head back to school to finish a degree focusing on linguistic cryptanalysis.

My first field of study was in music, focusing on classical guitar and vocal performance, then went unused as I developed vocal Ataxia alongside my cerebellar Ataxia. Eventually, I came to accept that music performance was no longer in my repertoire and turned my focus back to triathlon and various sporting activities.

While I haven’t returned to the triathlon, I enjoy various other activities; kayaking, hand-cycling, yoga, calisthenics, and spending time in the gym. My most beloved activity since I was diagnosed is art. I’m now a member of Art League Houston and the art group of United Spinal Houston, sell my work, and occasionally teach art lessons. I can’t make a straight line, but that only encourages me to continue trying!

The pandemic has lessened my opportunities to take part in most of the activities I love. I don’t mind because it gives me the chance to be creative and focus on things like art and calisthenics, and stumbling (aka., “walking”). I love practicing walking. I can stumble around fairly safely, though it looks like I’m walking a tightrope during an earthquake. If you can move, move. Never stop moving. Move while you can!

Patience, perseverance, determination – just a few of the things having Ataxia has taught me. Be kind to yourself. I’ve learned to appreciate the lessons I’ve faced and am still learning. I’m more independent than before – but in a different way. I still rely on other people for many things.

People are precious, and sometimes we forget that. WE are precious. Sometimes we say and do things that hurt or disappoint ourselves and each other. How we react to that sadness and hurt is what matters. Beyond that, how we react to our circumstances shape us. How I react to my reality is difficult, but I’ll never give up, despite my disability.

Ellie Cammack

Thanks, Ellie Cammack for sharing your story!

Related Posts

Patti Okai

Faces Of Ataxia

Patti Okai – Acquired Ataxia From A Tumour

Carole Arsenault

Faces Of Ataxia

Carole Arsenault: Wernicke Encephalopathy And Me

KSface

Faces Of Ataxia

Krystal Schulze: Raising Awareness Of Acquired Ataxia

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Help support HFA

HOPE FOR ATAXIA

get to know us

our mission

meet our team

media information

connect

contact us

join our community

browse the store

get involved

fundraisers

awareness campaigns

volunteer

get support

resources

global support group

privacy policy

© Hope For Ataxia All Rights Reserved