Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Late Onset Tay-Sachs disease. Tay-Sachs is a rare disease, but it normally affects only infants and children. In infantile and juvenile, it's 100% fatal. Infants usually by age three, and juveniles by maybe nine or ten. Thankfully, late onset isn't generally fatal, but it is degenerative and progressive. I am one of only about 100 confirmed cases in the entire United States. (Gee don't I fee special?
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It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I'm probably headed for a wheelchair at some point in the future. Nobody knows when, but it's probably coming.
After the initial shock wore off, I went into a deep depression. But a couple years ago, I decided to start woodworking again. I've created a number of pieces that came out really nice. I just wish I could find a market for them because I'm running out of room to store them.
I've repurposed old dangerous baby cribs into benches, as well as an old headboard into a bench. I've designed and built storage chests and benches too.
The thing I like about woodworking is that although it may sound strange, when I'm working on a project, I don't feel like I have Tay-Sahs.