This is the way it is: How Ita is coping with a life-changing condition
Ita, 83, remains optimistic despite facing a challenging health diagnosis. After undergoing back surgery in 2021, she started experiencing symptoms that eventually led to a diagnosis of isolated gait disorder.
Adjusting to new realities
Since the surgery, Ita has not been able to walk properly and now relies on a wheelchair. She said,
"I haven't walked properly since the back surgery."
Although doctors are unsure if the surgery caused the condition or how it will develop, Ita is adapting to her increased dependence on others, explaining,
"I'm dependent on other people to help me get around and that's one of the adjustments."
Focusing on the positive
Despite these changes, she finds comfort in some relief, such as no longer suffering from back pain. Ita chooses to take control of her life rather than feeling sorry for herself:
"I can either feel sorry for myself and do nothing, or I can take control of my life, as I always have."
Frustrations and reflections
Ita expresses frustration over the limited funding available for research into her illness. She reflects on life's uncertainties by saying,
"Life is full of detours."
Continuing her passion
Despite her challenges, Ita has completed her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita, her second memoir and the first one written without a full-time job.
She shared,
"It was a relief to write a book and discover how much fun it is when you don't have to keep leaving it to go back to the job you do."
Author's summary: Ita faces her uncertain health with resilience, focusing on positives and continuing her passion for writing despite physical challenges.
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