Sandy Holleman – I Have Hope
Sandy Holleman has a daughter, Mary Beth, who has been diagnosed with SCA 15. Sandy shares her experience of what it is like to have ataxia run in the family.
Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Keila Aartila – Living My Best Life Anyway
Keila Aartila has spinocerebellar ataxia. She works with horses and is also an author and entrepreneur.
Louise Estabrook – Ataxia and Me
At age 56, Louise Estabrook found out she has SCA3. She drastically changed her lifestyle around, turning from a “couch potato” into a true “adrenaline junky”!
Billie J. Mattingly – My Ataxia Journey
In this week’s Faces of Ataxia blog post, Billie J. Mattingly shares her Ataxia journey and her positive message. My journey has been a long one. I have been searching for answers since I was in my teens. I am now forty-three and found my diagnosis in 2019 of Ataxia (SCA). When I was […]
Talia Harris – Enjoy Life
Talia Harris was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia at age 24. This inspired her to start her own company where she now works as a Disability Consultant. Most importantly, Talia takes the time to engage in activities she really enjoys.
Susan Stiles – Let Our Voices Be Heard
Susan Stiles was diagnosed with SCA6 at the age of 64. She had always been unexplainably clumsy, but also very athletic. Susan has always been quite a workaholic and she has even written her own book. All my life I have been clumsy but didn’t know why. I kept falling down without a moment’s notice, […]
Shannon Dumphy Lazo – You Are Not Alone
After a genetic test in Feb 2021, Shannon Dunphy Lazo was diagnosed with ARCA3, also called SCAR10. She believes that “it is what it is” and recommends joining a support group. Shannon founded and leads the St Louis Ataxia Support Group.
Margaret Evans Albert – Stay Positive
After living a very active life filled with (volunteer) work, sports, and hobbies for the first 70 years of her life, Margaret Evans Albert had to change her habits. She was diagnosed with SCA3, which had a big impact on her daily life.
Ewa Błońska – Some Things Take Time
Ewa Błońska has spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA), which runs in her family, so she already had her diagnosis before having had any symptoms. Ewa used to be ashamed of having ataxia, but now she knows that you can still achieve and experience many other beautiful things in life. She also designs some cool clothing […]
David Cartwright – Exercise Your Mind and Body
David Cartwright has SCA6. David immigrated from England to Canada when he was 21, where he met his wife. He used to play many different types of ball sports and water sports. However, his journey with ataxia has also shown him the benefits of less intense workouts and exercising the mind.