Author Archives: Ari Anderson

My daily schedule is full, so it’s important for me to use my time wisely. This allows me to enjoy fun activities and do the work I love. I face various challenges in balancing…

Living with SMA entails so much more than physical challenges and caregiver shortages. Our lives are much fuller and richer than that. The riches are in our day-to-day experiences, as well as the wisdom and maturity that SMA bestows…

Last month, I wrote about a whiteboard of collected memories I received as a gift when I graduated from college in 2005. It had 38 pictures on it that showcased the many life adventures…

When my great-aunt was 100, she used to sing a song that said “count your many blessings.” As I approach another birthday and complete another year on my journey with SMA, I’m counting my…

With SMA, I work hard to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. But what if I’m missing something? What if there are opportunities that are within my grasp, but I’m not…

Because I live with SMA, I value comfort and routine, which help to alleviate some of the hardship and stress that come with managing this disease. Since January, a new day nurse has been doing her…

I’ve been through a lot with SMA. I thought I had experienced everything, but on March 20, I was proven wrong. It was a frightening shock. That morning, my nurse was dressing me while…

At the beginning of the year, I felt a sense of calm because I finally had enough nurses to complete my home nursing staff. There was no pressure to find a replacement for a nurse…

One of my rules is that nurses cannot care for me when they’re sick. Although this creates challenges, I don’t want to risk exposure. Because I live with SMA, the repercussions of a virus or other cause of…

If you’ve read at least a few of my columns, you know that I hold on tightly to hope. It’s what keeps me plowing through the rough terrain of problems and crises, as my faith tells me that, one…