Through each milestone of this disability - from walking all the time, to having to use a wheelchair some of the time, to not being able to walk at all, using a powerchair and everything in between - I've learned again and again that life goes on.  I've thought that when each of the above happens then life will end, like when I can't walk anymore that will be it, but - low end behold - it wasn't.  Life always goes on...

What I don't really talk about is the fact that FA is progressive - I know it will get worse.  I have met a few people in the advanced stages of this disability and it isn't pretty.  What can I say?  I don't really think about this aspect of my disability too deeply, but I do think about it most days in one context or another.  I use it to remind me to milk this life for all it's worth while I'm able.  I actually think that everyone should endeavour to do this, FA or not, because nothing in this life is guaranteed.

As everyone who has FA is different (it's very much a designer disability - everyone has their own version of it), no one can predict which symptoms I'll develop or at what rate things will progress.  I therefore can't really speak for my future because I don't know what it has in store for me.  I don't feel I should make plans for it, but I do keep an open mind.  I know people who have FA who have travelled the world or who have kids or who have university degrees.