A full life… and counting!
My name is Patrick Tanguay and I have Morquio disease, just like my brother. I’d like to share my story because I believe it can help people with this disease, or their parents. I’m 38, married and have a job I love. My illness has never prevented me from living a full life. I played sledge field hockey for 10 years, I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Université de Montréal and a master’s degree in Public Administration from ENAP. I was able to do all this because my parents never held me back and, above all, they never overprotected me. To all those suffering from a disease, rare or otherwise, I’d like to say never give up and let medical prognoses stop you. Live your life to the full – you never know how the disease will progress. My parents were told I wouldn’t make it past thirty, and I’m still here. I don’t know what the future holds – after all, my disease is degenerative – but I do know that for the time being, I can live a pretty normal life, and I’ll settle down when the disease forces me to, not before.
Patrick Tanguay, Sainte-Julie
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