Personal Narrative: Spinocerebellar Ataxia

Stumbling over nothing, my father falls flat onto the ground. Unsurprised, a hint of annoyance pricks at my mind. I stand with an exasperated sigh and help him up. Just another day. I hate my compulsive anger, but I am not angry with him. I’m angry at this disease that is slowly destroying my father and taking him away from me.
My father has Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that affects a person's speech and balance; a rare and incurable condition that runs throughout the family. My days consist of enduring the sounds of his everyday struggles: continuous coughing as he chokes on his saliva, irregular shuffling of his feet, and his slurred words. On his worst days, he only mumbles, where his thoughts are incomprehensible …show more content…
I won’t be able to communicate with the ones I love or participate in my favorite physical activities. I want to live my days to the fullest before my mentality can disintegrate. I witness his perseverance: exercising daily, attending speech and physical therapy, and routinely taking his medication. This has made me persevere through my own struggles, even if there might not have a significant impact. Most of all, my father has a significant impact on how diligently I work academically. If I fail to succeed, then all that he sacrificed becomes a waste. All my dad has to live for now is to witness my accomplishments. So, whenever I lose motivation or going through academic struggles, I remember I’m determined to make him proud and prove that his life is not as useless as he believes it is, and I am grateful for all he has done and return the same love and compassion he gives me.
It’s hard to live with the fact that there’s little I can do for my father to improve his conditions, so these circumstances influenced me to become a neurologist. There is a possibility I will find a cure, but if not, I hope to advance research findings and help other families affected by someone with a mental