Finding the disabled princess I didn’t know to look for
Have you ever dreamed of being a princess (or a prince)? I think most of us have, adults included.
I’ve always been a Disney fan, and it has no shortage of princesses to choose from. Each one is unique, so it’s usually easy to find at least one you can relate to. I’ve found connections with Belle’s love for books, Moana’s bond with the sea, a courageous song by a modern depiction of Jasmine, and the empathetic heart they all share.
One princess I didn’t find while growing up, though, is one with a disability. I can’t honestly say that I was looking, nor did it bother me that there weren’t any. Still, that kind of disability representation would have been more than welcome by a girl with SMA like me. I bet child-Halsey would have loved a princess in a wheelchair.
I may be an adult now, but I finally found one, and I think she’s pretty cool.
Meet Princess Emily
“A Christmas Prince” follows the story of aspiring journalist Amber Moore, who gets sent to the fictional country of Aldovia to report on the coronation of its scandalous heir. To discover more about Prince Richard, she goes undercover in the palace by posing as a tutor to his younger sister, Princess Emily.
Emily is a clever, brave, and loyal girl who loves Christmas cookies. (Who doesn’t?) She also has spina bifida. She navigates the world with either crutches or a wheelchair, and her castle has an elevator. And like me, she has a close relationship with her brother.
Among Emily’s qualities that I admire is that she’s a truth seeker. It doesn’t take her long to notice that something is amiss with her new tutor, so she does some investigating to learn Amber’s real identity. With this information, she makes a deal with Amber to get out of her schoolwork, which I’m not endorsing, and ensure that Amber writes the truth about the prince. Spoiler alert: He’s not the playboy the tabloids claim.
In my life, I am both the truth seeker and the writer. I believe there’s great value in patient and caregiver perspectives from the disability community, so I write about my family’s experiences with SMA. I hope sharing shines light on what our sometimes different lives are like, offers connection, and fosters greater empathy and understanding within everyone who reads my words.
Being different is something that Emily struggles with. She feels like people pity her because of her disability, and that’s a heavy weight for a child to carry. I wish I could hug Emily in these moments, but she does have Amber who helps her to become more accepting of herself and gives her opportunities to have some simple childhood fun.
I’m fortunate to have always been surrounded by people who embrace my differences. My mom is especially good at this. She reminds me often that she loves caring for me, and I believe this has helped me learn to see the goodness in living with SMA. And when I view my disability through this lens, I find far more strengths than weaknesses.
I know I’m different, but everyone is in some way. The world would be awfully boring if we weren’t.
That’s not to say I’ve never felt wrongly singled out or excluded by society, but in my home and other chosen circles, I’m surrounded by love and acceptance for exactly who I am and the support I need.
Another way in which Emily is different is that she’s royalty. I can’t claim to know what that’s like, although my faith and Bible verses like Romans 8:17 lead me to believe that God sees me as a princess.
Perhaps this seems odd, but I don’t think treating people like royalty should be unusual. I imagine if everyone received the privilege of that level of respect and recognition, it might just give more people the opportunity to be seen and appreciated and emphasize that we’re all worthy of being special.
This holiday season, let’s try applying this mindset to our loved ones, the strangers we meet, and even ourselves. If we all want to be a prince or princess, why not bestow that honor on each other? And you never know: It could be exactly the gift someone around us didn’t know they were looking for.
Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.
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