By Yvee Tadeo Guevara, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
Sept. 25, 2014
LA VERNE, Calif.- Ataxia is a group of rare degenerative neurological disorders that are often fatal. About 150,000 people in the U.S. are affected by Ataxia, which is a lack of muscle coordination.
Fifteen-year-old Moira Greenway is the eldest daughter of former teen star Bunny Paras and radio host Mo Twister. She has been suffering from Friedreichs Ataxia for almost eight years now.
She was around seven-years-old, like six or seven-years-old, said Bunny Paras, mother of Moira. We saw that she was getting wobbly, slurry speech, and more clumsy Because its progressive, we saw talagang happening na every year it got worse and worse and worse.
Moira was an active kid. But Ataxia has limited her way of life.
I was able to do kickball and other little games that we did with other classmates, said Bunny. But right now I cannot do anything.
Its so hard to think are you going to lose your child? said Moiras mother. Is she gonna last how many years? Hows the progression gonna be?
Friedreichs Ataxia in children has a more rapid progression and is often associated with vision impairment, scoliosis, diabetes, and serious heart problems.
Its kind of like people are bumping into each other everywhere, said Moira. Its like theres a higher tendency for me to fall or something not good to happen.
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Pinoy family affected by ataxia hopes to raise awareness on rare disorder