Name: Donovan Simpson

Age: 18

Where do you call home? Yonkers, New York 

What grade are you in? What is your dream job? I’m a senior in high school and my dream job is to work in game design.

Who do you live with? My Mom and Dad.

What's a typical day for you? I go to school and I come home :) 

How long have you known you are living with FA? I started showing symptoms when I was like 5 and was diagnosed at six. 

Are there any others with FA in your family? No, just me. 

Describe an adaptation and/or transition you have had to take due to living with FA. When I was about 10, I  broke my right arm. Ever since then, I have been in a wheelchair.  

What do you like to do to stay active and what type of exercises work for you to stay strong? I like to work out to stay fit. 

Do you have any hobbies or special interests? I enjoy playing video games.  

When FA gets you down, what do you think/do to feel better? I think of ways to make it better! 

What is one way living with FA has POSITIVELY affected your life? I would not know most of the people I do if it was not for FA. 

What is the best advice YOU could give to a person who has been newly diagnosed with FA? From my understanding, I can say, it gets better from now on.

What is the first thing you want to do when a cure/treatment to FA is found? I want coordination again!!

"I have FA but FA doesn't have me." What does this statement mean to you? How do you live your life in the face of adversity? I think with or without FA we live and prosper and me I just live!

 

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