Childlife

Eight-year-old Violet is loved by her teachers and classmates and enjoys going to school, where she has a thirst for knowledge and is willing to try anything.

The youngest of three siblings, she was diagnosed with Cerebellar ataxia in 2020, inherited from her Dad, and now often needs help from a walking frame to get around. Daily life can be tough, but she has adapted ways of doing things to her ability – carrying something upstairs by alternating the item then herself up a step at a time for example.

“She is such a happy girl and chooses not to be too sad about it – I wish I was more like her sometimes. She has found new and better ways to overcome obstacles – she teaches me every day without even realising it.” Glen, Violet’s Dad.

Violet is very creative – she likes to draw, write stories, play with her Barbies and loves arts and crafts. One of her favourite things is spending time at the family’s static caravan, where she can ride her trike around and visit the beach.

‘I’m not drunk’

Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Many symptoms of Ataxia mimic those of being drunk, such as slurred speech, stumbling and poor co-ordination, caused by damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for movement.

The family have regular contact with Ataxia UK, as a one-stop place to gain knowledge and to stay informed about ongoing research and studies, which they hope one day may slow down the progress of Violet’s ataxia symptoms. They have all received Ataxia UK ‘I’m not drunk’ ID cards which can help explain the disease to anyone who might misinterpret their symptoms.

Ataxia UK provides funds and support to ataxia research with the goal of developing treatments and cures for the ataxias.

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