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We are strong together11/30/2022 ![]() This is especially true within the Polydeck family. Together, we’re finding out what works and uncovering new ways to bring value to our partnerships. Together, we’re solving problems and creating more efficiency so that our customers reap the benefits of their relationship with us. Together-with our co-workers, partners, and friends-we continue to innovate our products and improve our processes. Someone once told me that “Alone we are weak, but together we are strong.” Although I can’t predict the future, I’m very hopeful that together we can make a huge impact.As Polydeck prepares to close out a successful 2019 and embark on a new year of growth and opportunity, we look back on the past 12 months with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment. Goodness only knows where that will lead me – but with our desire to spread awareness, advance research, and find a cure for all Ataxias, it can only be good. This has quickly led me to find Hope for Ataxia. And through support groups on Facebook and organizations like the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, I have found a huge resource of like-minded individuals. Life threw me curveball after curveball but I managed, I even thrived. The point is that I do pretty well for myself. So, my volunteering, bilingualism, and fundraising skills have allowed me to spread HSP awareness. Another of these contacts reached out and proposed to transfer her entire charitable foundation to me. One of those contacts lead me to translate for a Doctor at McGill University who is an expert and researcher in my condition – Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). That role permitted me to establish many, many contacts in the SPF community. Concurrently, I volunteered as an Ambassador for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation (SPF). At first, it was a way to focus on my bilingualism and not think about my disability. So with that in mind, my volunteering concentrated on advocating for disabled people. Volunteering also keeps me in control of my time – I don’t owe anything to anybody AND if I need time for appointments/ therapy, I don’t need permission.Īs I mentioned before, I just want to help people. Volunteering keeps my mind sharp, makes me feel good about myself, keeps my mind busy so I don’t dwell on the HSP-related problems in my life. ![]() I’m not 100% successful in keeping pain out of my life all the time but I do very well.Īs for the mental part of living with HSP – I volunteer A LOT. I do basic weight lifting and stretching as well, as best I can anyway. Now I have a recumbent tricycle by Catrike and I use it about two to three times a week to keep the weight off and maintain limber muscles. So although I don’t currently see my physiotherapist every week I have to work on my muscles ALL THE TIME or endure stiffness, pain, or inflammation. With the guidance of my physiotherapist and my doctor, I gained somewhat of an understanding of how my muscles work. I also followed a regular physiotherapy routine and had custom AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthotics) made to support my foot drop – with a hinge at the ankle so I can walk. At first, I managed them with medication and eventually “graduated” to Cystoscopies (performed by my Urologist every 6 to 7 months). So I moved to a more rugged walker in the VELOPED by Trionic with sealed brakes and big pneumatic tires. The nimbleness of the regular walker was no longer enough to suit a 47-year-old avid hiker. Eventually, a cane wasn’t enough either and I “graduated” to a regular walker (mine was a NEXUS III). I needed to use a cane to support myself on top of that. Eventually, holding on to everything wasn’t enough. I fall very, very frequently and hold on to EVERYTHING. Long story short, I have been dealing with this for 17 years… but I adapted. I sought the help of a neurologist and also of a geneticist. ![]() It’s also pure – which means that I’m super lucky that my disability is limited to my lower limbs and bladder but nothing else.Īlthough I was born with this condition, I only started noticing issues around 29/ 30 years of age. My SPG7 is affected and the genetic mutation is recessive. I am French-Canadian and I have Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). I am medically retired – that just means there is a medical reason for a 47-year-old to be retired. I’m 47 years old and I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ![]()
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