This Is the Way It Is: How Ita Is Coping with a Life-Changing Condition
Ita, 83, remains positive despite facing an uncertain future. After undergoing back surgery in 2021, she developed symptoms leading to a diagnosis of isolated gait disorder.
She shared,
“I haven't walked properly since the back surgery.”Although doctors are unsure if the surgery caused her condition or if it will worsen, Ita now relies on a wheelchair.
“I'm dependent on other people to help me get around and that's one of the adjustments,”she explained.
Instead of focusing on loss, Ita emphasizes the benefits, such as the absence of back pain. She said,
“I can either feel sorry for myself and do nothing, or I can take control of my life, as I always have.”
She admits feeling frustrated by inadequate funding for research into her illness.
“Life is full of detours,”she reflected.
Continued Creativity and Resilience
Despite challenges, Ita completed her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita, her second memoir and the first written without balancing a full-time job.
She noted,
“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 embraces life’s challenges with determination and creativity, focusing on control and positivity despite a difficult diagnosis and mobility loss.