Category

Ataxia Awareness
This is part of the Resilient Voices series — honest stories and perspectives on living with Ataxia and beyond. I’ve seen versions of this message shared before—lists that begin with, “I don’t look sick, but…” They always hit a nerve. Some of the experiences listed in that viral image—I’ve lived them. Others, I haven’t. I...
Part of the Steady Steps series What if the reason you’re always tired isn’t just your condition, but also what’s on your plate? Tired? It’s Not Always Just About Sleep. If you live with Ataxia or any long-term condition, chances are you’re familiar with fatigue that goes way beyond “I stayed up too late.” It’s...
Some Facebook posts scroll past you. Others stop you cold. I was mindlessly skimming through updates when I stumbled across an ataxia inspiration story that hit me in the chest. A guy named Sean Hevey wrote a post titled “Never Settle: Living With Ataxia on My Own Terms.” I don’t know Sean, but I connect...
Not all superheroes wear capes. Some wear vests. When Joel An saw his mom struggling to walk safely across the room, he didn’t just sit with that feeling. He started building something to help his mom—a smart vest designed to support balance. But what he built has ended up helping a lot more people—those living...
This post is part of the Steady Steps Series: Real-life strategies for movement, planning, and living well with rare conditions. **Featuring a 7-Day Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan for Beginners When you’re living with a rare or chronic condition, your body is already doing extra work. Add in inflammation, whether it’s visible or hidden, and the daily...
Part of the Living Rare series — stories and reflections on the strength it takes to show up in everyday life. You probably don’t think twice about putting on socks. Most people don’t. But for those of us living with Ataxia—or similar neurological conditions—it’s the kind of task that can test your coordination, balance, patience,...
This post launches the Steady Steps series—a collection of grounded insights on life, disability financial planning , and resilience while living with Ataxia or navigating any rare condition. I don’t see many posts like this in Ataxia groups, and maybe that’s because it’s not as easy to talk about. It’s not a symptom, it’s not...
I’m thrilled to share this article by Franke James, an advocate, artist, and deep thinker whose work explores the intersection of technology(ChatGPT), health, and human experience. In it, Franke offers a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence might one day assist with movement disorders like Ataxia, not as a cure but as an innovative partner...
Over the weekend, I received an email that struck a chord, not just with me, but with anyone living with a rare condition that feels overlooked. It was a petition urging the FDA to consider treatment options for rare diseases with unmet needs, specifically mentioning spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). You can read the petition here. For...
You don’t rise above the stress. You learn to move with it – that changes everything.Michael Mantz Stress doesn’t wait for the right moment. It doesn’t care if your legs are stiff, your speech is slurred, or your energy is running on fumes. When you live with Ataxia, stress doesn’t just knock—it barges in, rearranges...
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My purpose

michael mantz
Life rarely goes as planned. This blog is about navigating what actually happens – major disruptions, health challenges, and the quieter work of figuring out who you are through all of it. I write from inside that process. I have Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA 15), a rare neurological condition that shapes my perspective but doesn’t define this space. Some articles are personal. Some are practical. All of them are honest.

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