Diane was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA-C) in January of 2025 at the Mayo Clinic in MN after having 2 years of unexplainable symptoms affecting her balance and speech and with many doctors and specialists trying unsuccessfully to diagnose her. She began experiencing symptoms in 2023. She first noticed herself taking sudden side steps
from a stand still position to walking to the left. Her speech was slightly slurred at times and typing became difficult with her left hand. She began using walking sticks, at first intermittently to regularly by the summer of 2024. By Sept. 2024 she was reliant on a walker for longer distances. She had growing concerns and saw multiple doctors in an attempt to figure out what was going on; she saw an ENT, ophthalmologist, her primary physician, a chiropractor, two neurologists, and a spine doctor. She finally received a confirmation of an official symptom, Cerebellar Ataxia. No other diagnosis. Nobody knew or could explain what was happening so she applied for an appointment at the Mayo Clinic. In Jan 2025, the doctor at the Mayo Clinic, after taking a thorough history, ran some more tests, MRI and blood tests, but also a uroflow test, an orthostatic hypotension test and a sweat test. The results came back consistent with Multiple Symptom Atrophy although she had not been experiencing any noticeable symptoms in those areas. She dedicated her career to developmentally and intellectually disabled people. From 1996-1998 she worked for the Institute for Deafness, in Naperville IL, working with adults and children who additionally had a deaf diagnosis. She did her internship in 1999 which led to a job in 2000-2001 with the Menta Group working with behaviorally and emotionally challenged adolescents and children in special education schools in Hillside and Park Ridge IL. After working several years in community mental health she returned to working with developmentally and intellectually disabled people. She obtained a position with Individual Advocacy Group (IAG) from 2009–2025. Her work was immensely challenging and fulfilling.

Diane became a clinical psychologist while building her own family. She is a mother of 3 Boys, has a grandson, and one on the way. She has had opportunities to help family and friends raise their children. Her parents fostered children and when she became older she helped with them. She always had a young child shadowing her whether it was a younger sibling or one of her foster-siblings, or a family friend’s child or children. She enjoyed traveling and living a healthy lifestyle. She has visited two provinces in Canada, eight countries in Europe, and in 75% of the United States. She would have done more but the illness makes it less realistic.

Help support MSA research in Diane’s honor, donate below to the Diane Hartjes Legacy Fund.