"This is the way it is": How Ita is coping with a life-changing condition
Ita, aged 83, remains positive despite facing uncertainty after undergoing back surgery in 2021. Following the procedure, she developed symptoms that led 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 said. Instead of focusing on the challenges, Ita chooses to appreciate the relief of no longer feeling 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 admits feeling frustrated by the limited funding for research into her illness and remarks,
"Life is full of detours."
Creative work and writing
Ita recently completed her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita, her second memoir and the first written without a full-time job.
"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."
Summary
Ita demonstrates resilience by embracing positivity and creativity despite her mobility challenges and uncertainty about her health future.