Humor is my key to survival in life with SMA
The other day, I got my wheelchair stuck in a doorway. All I wanted to do was see the Christmas decorations at a local coffee shop. Perhaps even enjoy a nice cup of their matcha while quietly…
Author Archives: Alyssa Silva
How a renegade lamp taught me that control is an illusion
While I understand that inanimate objects cannot have a mind of their own, there’s a lamp in my bedroom that would kindly disagree. I’ve had this lamp for a couple of years now. It’s set to…
With SMA, slowing down becomes its own kind of strength
Autumn and I have always had a complicated relationship. Its golden hues, pumpkin-patch allure, and cozy feelings entrance me like no other. Yet, amid this season’s spell lies one hard truth to accept: Winter is coming. For…
A magazine article was my family’s lifeline during my SMA diagnosis
In 1991, before my family had ever heard the words “spinal muscular atrophy” (SMA), my parents desperately sought out answers to my developmental delays. At just 3 months old, I began showing signs of weakness.
How a simple page turn became a big victory
As much as I love to read, sometimes the physical act of doing so isn’t easy. Books quiet my mind. They transport me to another world where hospitals and doctors’ offices aren’t the norm. However, my hands and…
What I hope you’ll understand this SMA Awareness Month
“Don’t worry, we all got the Alyssa lesson before we started working here,” the new fellow joked after having completed his second nasojejunal (NJ) feeding tube exchange on me. Though everyone in the room had a good chuckle,…