Fighting through Tourette’s syndrome

Many of those people never know the freedom that comes from sitting behind the wheel.

Not Fritz, who got his driver’s license earlier this year.

“It’s something I’ve been working on the last three years, being able to control my tics enough to drive safely,” Fritz said. “Most people with Tourette’s aren’t able to get that.”

Fritz purchased his first car, a red 2014 Toyota Yaris, about a month ago and took a road trip to Seattle.

But Fritz didn’t get his license just so he could travel.

One of the big motivations for getting his driver’s permit was to become a volunteer firefighter for Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, which requires a license.

Fritz is currently a firefighter recruit and will take a medical evaluation and physical this week. The work screen includes tasks like crawling on the floor with an air pack and carrying a 150 pound dummy.

If Fritz passes the physical, he’ll take a 21-chapter course offered both online and in the classroom that typically takes about six months.

Fritz would eventually like to become a firefighter/EMT.

“I grew up with my mom and step dad being volunteer firefighters so it’s something I’ve always had an interest in and my way of serving the community,” Fritz said.

Volunteering isn’t new to Fritz, who’s also helped out at the Windy River Gleaners food bank and Home at Last Humane Society in The Dalles. He works as a lead cashier and production associate at Goodwill.

Fritz grew up in Kansas City and had his first onset with Tourette’s at 8 years old. The symptoms got worse as a teenager but thanks to exercising and eating healthy have since calmed down.

Fritz enjoys running on the trails in the Pacific Northwest and doesn’t even take medication anymore.

“I can’t even tell you how many medications I’ve been on but I got approval from my neurologist about two and half years ago to wean myself off medication and I’ve been doing better since,” Fritz said.

“Before I took two pills that were pretty high dosage that made me feel like a zombie. I was always drowsy. I wasn’t focused like I should be.”

Fritz has long tried to not let the syndrome keep him from being a regular kid. In high school, he played football and baseball.

“When I’m focused on something, it’s almost like they’re not even there,” Fritz said of the tics.

“The biggest challenge was other teams would make comments but I wouldn’t let it get to me too much.”

Fritz moved to The Dalles four years ago to join two siblings who grew up in Goldendale.

Two years ago, he created a Facebook group called Sunshine of Hope for people who have neurological tic disorders like Tourette’s. Now, the group has 235 members from all over the world.

“One day I decided I wanted to interact with other people who have the same condition that I have and other tic disorders, not just Tourette’s,” Fritz said. “I wanted to make it where everybody could come together and talk about their daily struggles in once place and interact on a daily basis.”