Spinocerebellar Ataxia
A poem by Keila Aartila
Spinocerebellar Ataxia
A legacy passed down.
An affliction of the brain
that has stripped me
of physical abilities
over time;
those have been replaced with`
perseverance, determination,
insatiable curiosity.
Patience and confidence are tested
daily - sometimes I fall;
I have always risen.
That is the legacy I choose.
(Spinocerebellar Ataxia “SCA” is a progressive genetic condition affecting the brain, specifically cerebellar function, causing brain atrophy, and impacting dexterity and mobility. Some types are fatal. Mine is not. It is not curable, or even currently treatable. Only manageable through daily life choices and adaptations. I’m lucky to have found a good and encouraging support system,)
About the Creator
KJ Aartila
A writer of words in northern WI with a small family and a large menagerie.
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Comments (1)
That's terrifying, to me. It sounds horrible that You're living with a condition that strips You of Your basic motor functions and Your capability to live Your life freely, without restraint, needing to be assisted more and more as the years go on. I hate that such diseases are called progressive when they're taking away from much from ourselves, loved ones, and those that we don't even know. Degenerative, destructive, diseases suck, especially ones that we have yet to treat, let alone cure. May Your condition not worsen as Your life lives on, Keila.