Friedrich's ataxia--or FA for short--is a disease that affects one in 50,000 people. It attacks the central nervous system. There's no treatment, and no cure.
But one Savannah woman is hoping to change that. Lindsay Ashman, 26, isn't giving up without a fight. Even though her body is failing her, she's racing against the clock to find a cure.
Being in a wheelchair doesn't slow Ashman down. In fact, it helps her go faster as she tries to keep up with her 4-year-old son, Clay.
Her biggest challenge is maneuvering her power wheelchair, but even that doesn't stop her from doing everyday tasks like picking up after her son. "It's become so normal, I don't even notice it anymore," she said.
Ashman is slowly losing all control of her muscles due to FA. She was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago and the disease has slowly worsened. Her speech is slightly slurred, and she's lost most of her ability to move.
She refuses to let the disease get in her way, but knows the odds are stacked against her. "I'm a little too busy to think of what I don't have, and what I wish I had," she said.
"It's progressive, I think the oldest person I've heard with FA is 30," said pediatric neurologist Dr. Terry Bunch. Bunch says FA is a genetic neurological degenerative disorder. Once the symptoms, like loss of muscle coordination, start, they only get worse. There is no treatment and no cure.
"The hope would be that we would diagnose it early and treat it early," said Dr. Bunch.
Ashman is hoping for that, too, by raising money for researchers to find new treatments. She hopes her efforts will help them find a cure, so instead of moving after her son, she'll one day be able to run.
Ashman continues to accept donations on behalf of a Friedrich's Ataxia Research Organization. If you'd like to contribute, donations go to FARA, Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, c/o Lindsey Ashman, 14851 Honeysuckle Road, Savannah, GA. 31419.
Reported by: Melanie Ruberti, mruberti@wtoc.com
Lindsay Ashman
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