The story of Martha
I have had hereditary Ataxia (SCA 6 ) since 1986. The progression of the Ataxia affected every aspect of my personal and professional life as an opera singer. My disease took away my ability to sing and stand . My employer labeled me a threat to my colleagues on stage. At 38 years old singing was over. The German government retrained me on a disability work program in cultural management. But this too was affected by the progression of Ataxia. I moved from the cold and wet of Germany to the warm and dry of Spain. After trying to cope with the disease my attention turned on the only thing I could still do independently – an Ataxia awareness website. Together with my caregiver we cope with the situation.