Name: Erin Kiernan
Age: 26
Where do you call home? I live west of Baltimore, Maryland.
Education (degree(s): Received my BA in Political Science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in May of 2012 and am still actively seeking employment.
What is your relationship status? Do you have children? Who do you live with? I am in a loving relationship with a wonderful, TAB (temporarily able-bodied) man. We really want children, especially me, but we are waiting a few years for the time to be right, financially. Our home is within my parents’ basement apartment due to finances right now.
What's a typical day for you? I am currently unemployed, but I am actively seeking job opportunities as well as trying to get interviews done. As for now, I have an aide come to assist me twice a day Monday through Friday with various activities of daily living. We perform professional work as well as having fun in the community.
How long have you known you are living with FA? (When and how were you diagnosed?) I have been diagnosed for 19 years. Technically, I was one of the first people in the state of Maryland to be diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia with the blood test. On October 7th, 1996 by Kennedy Krieger hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. I am still seen by the neurologist, who helped me through the year or so of testing, at Johns Hopkins.