'This is the way it is': How Ita is coping with life-changing condition
At 83, Ita continues to face uncertainty with resilience and optimism. Following her back surgery in 2021, she began experiencing symptoms that led to a diagnosis of isolated gait disorder. Despite her challenges, she tries to maintain a positive outlook and stay engaged.
"I haven't walked properly since the back surgery," she said.
Doctors remain unsure whether the surgery contributed to her condition or how it might progress. Ita now uses a wheelchair for mobility.
"I'm dependent on other people to help me get around, and that's one of the adjustments," she explained.
Instead of focusing on her limitations, Ita emphasizes what she has gained — freedom from back pain and the ability to manage her outlook.
"I can either feel sorry for myself and do nothing, or I can take control of my life, as I always have," she said.
She admits that the lack of funding for research into her condition is frustrating but refuses to let it dominate her spirit.
"Life is full of detours," she reflected.
Ita recently finished her twelfth book, Unapologetically Ita, her second memoir and the first written without the distraction 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’s unwavering positivity, creativity, and determination reveal how she continues to shape a fulfilling life despite her physical limitations.