Author Archives: Halsey Blocher

My mom and I enjoy treating ourselves to a relaxing afternoon of mother-daughter bonding at the nail salon from time to time. We don’t have one specific salon that we always go to. While there are some that we like better than others, we often pick one that’s in…

Somehow, it’s already been three years since I began sharing my story with you in this column. It’s been a beautiful, heartfelt adventure that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But I have to admit that when I invited you to pull up a chair back in 2019, I didn’t…

Somehow, it’s already been three years since I began sharing my story with you in this column. It’s been a beautiful, heartfelt adventure that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But I have to admit that when I invited you to pull up a chair back in 2019, I didn’t…

After moving into our new home a few months ago, members of our family made a trip to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to update our IDs with our new address. I had another mission to accomplish while there. I wanted to register as an…

After moving into our new home a few months ago, members of our family made a trip to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to update our IDs with our new address. I had another mission to accomplish while there. I wanted to register as an…

It’s been about two years since I got a message from a friend saying that she would miss seeing me at Turnstone, the local disability center. Earlier that day, an announcement had been made that the building would be closing for an undetermined amount of time…

It’s been about two years since I got a message from a friend saying that she would miss seeing me at Turnstone, the local disability center. Earlier that day, an announcement had been made that the building would be closing for an undetermined amount of time…

Whenever my family and I meet new SMA specialists, they’re usually rather perplexed by me. They watch in amazement and excitement as my abilities defy the expected progression for an adult with SMA type 1 — someone whose rare genetic coding says they probably shouldn’t be alive, let…

I’ve been depending on my tracheostomy tube to supply me with sufficient amounts of oxygen for 11 years. At this point, its presence is familiar to me in much the same way as a favorite piece of jewelry that’s worn every day. I don’t always think…

Last year, my grandma excitedly told me about the book her high school students had been assigned for summer reading. After reading only a few chapters of “Unwind” by Neal Shusterman, she was clearly hooked and insisted I read it. I didn’t need much convincing — futuristic young…