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Emotional
(North Carolina’s Emerging Writers, Z Publishing House, August 2018) My name is Lily, and I’m twenty-five years old.  Since I’m a recent college graduate, one might presume my mind is filled with dreams for the future and visions of a potential career. Or, particularly in the modern era, one might guess that I feel more...
Support dog are life-changing for disabled people lucky enough to have one – not just in the way most people think. Every year, for the last five years, I have led the ‘All About Ataxia’ workshop for newly diagnosed people at Ataxia UK’s National Conference. Amongst other things, we talk about support networks, and who...
The human voice is the organ of the soul. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Communication is an essential part of our human connection. It enables us to express our thoughts, emotions, and desires. However, for those of us in the Ataxia community, speaking can present a unique set of challenges. Some days, I wake up and my tongue feels 10...
Our kids are 10 and 5 this month. This is an update of a piece I wrote on how we made the difficult choice to become parents. My Wife and I had always wanted to have children together, we’d just never agreed exactly when. Parenthood is not for everyone, but having a family life is a...
Where I am and where I’m going Part 3 of 3 I am Friedreich’s Ataxia! It is not the disability that defines you Jim Abbot I have heard that quote a lot. This condition took a large amount of my identity since it wreaked havoc on my life. I would not say my life was...
After I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia at fifteen, I swore, and really believed, I would take my own life before using one. What triggered this reaction and what changed my mind? I grew up in the eighties, unaware of disability. In my family, my cousin was born with a harelip and cleft palette, but...
After 25 years of living with a slowly progressive neurological condition, I came to the realization that I needed a reliable and more powerful means of getting around. In the home, I was okay, but I had to rely on others to do anything outside the house. Just moving around in my wheelchair or trike...
Georg is on the erg 6 days a week Part 2 of 3 My life did not change with the diagnosis of Friedreich’s ataxia. All in all, this was just a letter informing me solely about the name of the genetic coding error. An error in the cells of my body that led to ‘living...
Acupuncture:  proof that stabbing someone can make things better. Robert Southey Living with ataxia, a neurological disorder that affects coordination and balance, can be a daunting and challenging journey. However, among the various treatments available, acupuncture has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for managing the symptoms of ataxia. This ancient Chinese practice, rooted in...
Where do you call home? Among the captivating stories that unfold here, the Story of Richard C Brown stands out. I live in a sleepy little Oxfordshire village in the UK. My Wife and I grew up nearby but lived and worked in Oxford and Birmingham before we moved back in 2013. Education – degree(s):...
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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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