Author Archives: Alyssa Silva

This column describes the author’s own experiences with Spinraza (nusinersen). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When trying to decide on a topic for this week’s column, my procrastination got the best of me, as it…

As I check off the last item on my long list of gifts for the family I adopted this Christmas, I say a little prayer that they’ll feel utmost joy and kindness this season. I’ve been adopting families for many years now. It’s my way of saying…

Entering the hospital recently for what felt like the millionth time was not my idea of an afternoon well spent. Nevertheless, it wasn’t like I had much of a choice. My nasojejunal feeding tube requires me to go to the interventional radiology department every 10 days to get…

With a brisk chill in the air and an impending snowstorm near, I’m reminded that it’s officially the time of year when people start asking me, “Where’s your coat?” It’s a valid concern on their part, I suppose. After all, when the weather drops below freezing, the right thing…

If you’ve never shivered at the sound of someone coughing, chances are you’ve never experienced the weight of a respiratory infection. For someone living with SMA, that’s not usually the case. Getting these infections can be dangerous and life-threatening for us, even if they’re simply common colds.

Contrary to what others may perceive, living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Trust me, though, there are many days I wish it did. A common question I’ve been asked throughout my lifetime is how I manage the daily nuances of my…

“Please don’t feel sorry for me when I don’t feel sorry for myself.” These are the words I wish I could tattoo across my forehead anytime I’m out in public. OK, maybe that would be a little over the top. Perhaps I’d settle for a sign hanging from my…

Though I’ve had 20-something Spinraza (nusinersen) injections, my latest procedure proved most eye-opening for me. For almost seven years, I’ve gotten lumbar punctures to deliver this tiny but mighty medicine directly into my lower spine. After a handful of injections, I understood the drill. I knew what…

Although I often don’t like to admit it, I sometimes feel as though my identity has switched from person to patient overnight. The past few years have been hellish, with one health battle after another. It feels like I’ve been sidelined in my own life. But despite the…

Through my experience with SMA, I’ve come to understand the fragility of life. I’ve also come to understand the fragility of my wheelchair. I’ve been using a wheelchair for three decades and have learned how invaluable it is to my life and my independence. Though people often…