FARA Ambassador ProgramBrittany Sommerfield
Hello, my name is Brittany Sommerfield and I am a FARA ambassador. I was diagnosed when I was 13 and I am 24 as of November 2018. I am a Canadian and a Winnipeger.
At first, when I was diagnosed I tried to ignore the reality. If anyone asked if I was sick or why I was so clumsy I would tell them there was nothing. It wasn't until after grade 11, 5 years later, until I accepted the illness, I would tell people what was wrong- I wouldn't keep it a secret and I would help to spread awareness I decided
I organized a fundraiser at my high-school, my friends all helped and we raised a whopping $6,000 Canadian. I also held two socials (which are a Manitoba thing but it is pretty much a fundraiser/party). So far I have attended five different ataxia conference; I have also participated in multiple trials in UCLA and Atlanta Georgia (you can read my patient perspective to learn more, click here.
My name is Scarlett. I'm 22 years old and I live with Friedreich's Ataxia. I was diagnosed at age 14 and I didn't start having symptoms until I was nearly 20. My story is quite unique because I was diagnosed years before symptoms appeared. When I was 10, I had foot surgery and didn't heal very fast. Because of this, the doctors suspected a neurological disorder. Then 4 years later, I met with the right neurologist who identified FA right away.
Hey! My name is Allison Bouchard and I am 23 years old living in Bowdoin, ME. I was diagnosed with FA in 2006 when I was 11, after my sister Noelle was diagnosed about a year earlier. We both live together with our family, her boyfriend Matt, and our two dogs. I've been using a wheelchair since I was in high school. I was always a clumsy kid growing up, so my family wasn't too alarmed when I started showing symptoms until Noelle (then 16) did. I can remember feeling fatigued during gym class as far back as in 1st or 2nd grade.
Hi! My name is Shandra Trantham. I am 21 years old and live in Gainesville, Florida. I remember being just 8 years old when I first noticed my balance was deteriorating. I was in gymnastics and suddenly couldn't walk on the balance beam anymore. A few years after that I developed scoliosis and was put in a brace. Finally, at the age of 12 everything came together. My ortho doctor noticed my gait as I walked down the hallway. I still remember that night after the appointment, my parents kept asking me to walk back and forth so they could see my abnormal walking. I was sent to a neurologist and a while later, tested positive for FA! That same year I had a spinal fusion which really knocked me off my feet. Through my incredible stubbornness, I got most of my strength back. To this day, I walk 1-2 miles daily around school with the help of my walker. I've had a few bad falls, but that only makes me more hardcore! (Like the time I fell hard on my way to a final exam and took it anyways while dripping blood from my face). I aced it, by the way!
My name is Gabrielle Angiolelli, I am 24 years old, and I live in Montreal, Canada. I live with my dad, my brother, and my service dog, Kevlar.
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