This is the way it is: How Ita is coping with life-changing condition
Ita, 83, remains positive despite facing uncertainty after her back surgery in 2021 led to symptoms resulting in a diagnosis of isolated gait disorder.
Adjusting to New Challenges
Since her surgery, Ita has struggled with walking and now relies on a wheelchair for mobility. She shared,
"I haven't walked properly since the back surgery."
While doctors remain unsure if the surgery caused her condition or whether it will worsen, Ita embraces the changes:
"I'm dependent on other people to help me get around and that's one of the adjustments."
Positive Outlook and Focus
Rather than focusing on limitations, Ita prioritizes the positives, including relief from back pain:
"I can either feel sorry for myself and do nothing, or I can take control of my life, as I always have."
She acknowledges feelings of frustration, particularly about the lack of funding for research on her illness. Ita described life as full of unexpected changes:
"Life is full of detours."
New Endeavors
Despite health challenges, Ita has completed her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita, her second memoir and first written without the pressure of full-time work. She reflected on the experience:
"It was a relief to write a book and discover how much fun it is when you don't have to keep leaving it to go back to the job you do."
Author’s summary: Ita demonstrates resilience by embracing life’s changes with positivity, focusing on what she can control, and pursuing her passions despite her condition.