'This is the way it is': How Ita is coping with life-changing condition

"This is the way it is": How Ita is coping with life-changing condition

Ita, 83, has chosen optimism despite facing an isolated gait disorder that appeared after her back surgery in 2021. Though she has not been able to walk properly since then, she maintains a strong spirit and focuses on staying busy.

"I haven't walked properly since the back surgery," she said.

Doctors remain unsure whether the surgery triggered her condition or if it will worsen over time. Ita now uses a wheelchair and has learned to rely on others for mobility.

"I'm dependent on other people to help me get around and that's one of the adjustments," she said.

Rather than dwell on loss, she highlights the positives, including being free from back pain and having more time to write.

"I can either feel sorry for myself and do nothing, or I can take control of my life, as I always have," she said.

Still, Ita acknowledges her frustration about limited funding for research into her rare disorder.

"Life is full of detours," she said.

Her resilience shines through her creativity. She recently completed her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita—her second memoir and the first she wrote without the demands of 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," she said.

Author’s summary

Ita, 83, faces a disabling condition after surgery but embraces creativity and optimism, channeling her energy into writing and living with dignity.

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The Senior The Senior — 2025-11-06

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