Sandra Johnson Name: My name is Sandra Johnson!

Age: 56

Where do you call home? Scituate, Massachusetts

Education/Career: Graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. I now own an Antique Consignment Shop in the town I live in.

Who’s in your family? Happily married for 30 years with two adult children, a son that is 29 and a daughter that is 26.

 

What's a typical day for you? My daily routine is to wake up at 5 am, make breakfast, shower, clean a little, and then go to work!

Sandra JohnsonHow long have you known you are living with FA? I was diagnosed 10 years ago. It took several years before a doctor diagnosed me because I was a late onset.

Are there any others with FA in your family? Nobody else in my family has FA as far as I know.

Describe your transition from walking to walker/wheelchair. A year and a half ago I started using a rollater walker. I fought using any aid for many years and walked holding onto someone (family/fiends). My transition to a rollater gave me my independence back!

What do you like to do to stay active and what type of exercises work for you to stay strong? Since I am a small business owner, I work every day, which keeps me active. I also love gardening, practicing yoga, cooking, and entertaining with my family and friends.

Sandra Johnson Do you have any hobbies or special interests? I live in a wonderful community, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I like to play scrabble, do puzzles, decorating, gardening, and love spending time at my beach house.

What is a good trick to make daily life easier? Water shoes in the shower and converse sneakers everywhere else (including in the pool!)

When FA gets you down, what do you think/do to feel better? When FA gets me down, I crank Van Morrison, call my siblings and family, and then I move on!

What is one way living with FA has POSITIVELY affected your life? FA slowed me down in life enough to make me appreciate everything in my life everyday.

What is a favorite motivational quote of yours? “Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you!”.

What is the best advice YOU could give a person who has been newly diagnosed with FA? Don’t sit back and wait for a cure, keep living and LOVING your life to the fullest you can!

Sandra Johnson "I have FA but FA doesn't have me." What does this statement mean to you? How do you live your life in the face of adversity? “I have FA but FA doesn’t have me,” means to me that I challenge myself everyday to do everything I can for myself and my family. Therefore FA will never change me!

Tell us a little more about yourself… I work hard everyday and continue to push myself through obstacles that pop up! When things get tough my kis always say, “You got this mom!”


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