A Collaboration with Philly Loves Lacquer and Fighting Ataxia

I've partnered up with Esther of Philly Loves Lacquer to do a polish collaboration to raise money for an illness that is very close to me and my family - Ataxia....

For those who do not know what Ataxia is, it's a neurological disorder that attacks the nervous system and coordination, and it slowly gets worse over time. But it is so much more than that, I just cannot put it all into words...it has taken so much from me and my family. This is not a story we usually tell.

 

This disease affects my husband Kevin, my step son August who is only 15, we do not know yet if my 12yr old step daughter will develop it so we have to wait and see, my two brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, a sister-in-law who passed away about 6 years ago, my mother in law who passed away in 2009, a nephew who is 15, and many more in the family. I cannot begin to tell you how it feels to watch your child just deteriorate into a shell of a child. I remember the first day I met him and the first words he said to me (he smiled and said "my Dad thinks you're cute"). Now, I would give anything to just hear him laugh or say hi, or even smile, oh that smile... it makes me melt.

 

(August in 2009)

 

 I can't tell you how frightening it was sitting in ICU thinking we were going to lose him and having to watch my husband make out his son's Health Care Directive. It is heartbreaking to me to watch my husband get frustrated with himself because he can no longer work a job and provide for his family and do many of the things he used to do because of this disease. My husband can still walk but I know that soon he won't be able to and he will require the constant care that August does and things will greatly change for our family again but we will fight on. For my husband this is just the way life is, it is nothing to him, it is a way of life, it is all he has ever known. I admire his courage and strength.

(Our family photo from 2012)

It makes me ache every day knowing that I am going to outlive my family and there are many nights I cry myself to sleep at night with this thought in my head. We are not the only family out there living like this, struggling like this, fighting like this. This is a fight so many families have to fight. This is our chance to fight! This is our chance to help fund research! WE ARE THE STRENGTH BEHIND ATAXIA!!!!

 

International Ataxia Awareness Day is September 25, 2013. For more information please visit the National Ataxia Foundation's site.

In honor of International Ataxia Awareness Day, we decided to make "Roll On", with a portion of proceeds from total sales going to the National Ataxia Foundation for research. Roll On is a white crelly base with a mix of light blue hex, light blue hearts, matte turquoise hex (small and large), turquoise hearts and dots, aqua daisies, matte grey dots, and white micro bars.

 

 

It will be available for purchase on September 25th. Be sure to check MLM for swatches in the next week or two, as there will also be a chance to win a bottle of Roll On!