A poem describing Ataxia
written by, a LWA member, printed on a "Tote" bag
available from Washington Badge and Embroidery
http://www.washingtonbadge.co.uk/
16-IMAG2673Ataxiabags3.jpg (843 KB) 17-IMAG2673Ataxiabags5.jpg (896 KB) 18-IMAG2673Ataxiabags4.jpg (1.08 MB)WOW
These are an amazing way for ATAXIA awareness.
I went to a meeting with one of these on the back of my wheelchair, within an hour TWO people had stopped to ask to read it, and enquire about ATAXIA, plus where they could purchase these items.
Thank you to FeelingOurWay for composing this poem.
Alan
Founder Ataxia / Rare disease patient group, Wales
Alan,
Thanks for posting those images.
I had to manipulate the images in a 'paint' program to make them readable! The font, multi-colours and, in particular, the yellow characters threw me off some! No worries though as a few minutes of re-colour and enlargement worked a treat!
At first read, the poem seems gloomy. It isn't though - more like it 'tells it as it is'. I thought the poem good.
In the spirit of fair use and to make it easier to read, I word processed the poem - keeping it as accurate as possible (processor had a few tantrums over the use of language).
In my next post, I will show the poem in its easier to read form and with appropriate recognition for the author. Should the reproduction be inappropriate, then it would be only right that it be removed from the thread / post and I would ask that you remove it as needed.
Ataxia
You’d probably blame it on the drink
The first time that you see it,
But despite what you may think
If you did not know the facts here
This clumsy incoordination is in fact ataxia
An average football match attendance number
We’re proud of our crowd.
We couldn’t kick a ball to save our lives
Or catch it or sign it
Or for some to even see it’s there.
Inherited and genetic.
Acquired, or simply not yet known.
Breaking families and marriages
Eroding friendships and careers.
Slurred speech and choking.
The risk of trips and falls.
The struggle with the stairs.
Further down the line a choice of sticks or chairs.
Of carers or sharers of coping and hoping
Of special understanding mates.
But not in all likeliness
Of those that lead to dates.
Sisters Brothers fathers mothers
Uncles aunts nephews nieces
Neighbours colleagues friends and lovers
Pals in Pieces
Coping with a Blighted life
of clumsiness and incoordination
you can only really guess, I guess.
Google it – Ataxia.
You do this when you haven’t answers
And what you have is rare.
They are searching for a cure
Through cutting edge neurology
And science breakthroughs – soon – for sure.
Remember this – stand up for us
We find this harder still.
Match our will to your will.
Sense our needs and wishes
It’s easier than it seems.
But most of all the thing we want
Is your recognition of our dreams.
Author: FeelingOurWay
