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Volunteering has given me more joy and meaning than I ever imagined possible. Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) means I can’t move my own body, but that hasn’t stopped me from finding ways to move others.
“Alyssa, this is the best you’ve ever looked to me,” my gastroenterologist recently exclaimed during a routine appointment. Though I hadn’t felt my best internally, I took her word for it. After all, she’d been my doctor for more than a…
A great relief comes when you’ve been working hard to get through an obstacle and finally see progress. Perseverance is rewarding. In my case, SMA has given me many complicated challenges. As my mom, my…
It’s closing in on three weeks since Hurricane Helene bullied her way into North Carolina. My husband, Randy, and I live in Ashe County, in the northwestern corner of the…
The album “A Whole New Sound” is a treasure trove of nostalgia for millennials. Released last month, it features early 2000s punk rock bands performing covers of iconic Disney songs. Listening to…
As depression and anxiety started to affect my outlook on life, I noticed how these challenges clouded even the simplest moments. Depression’s weight often made it hard to see beyond a day’s struggles, while anxiety…
Every morning, my dog, Stella, impatiently waits for me to wake up. While it’s true that she loves me, it’s also true that she’s excited about the treat I give her after she greets me with…
I’ll confess: When I wished for a spinal fusion in my teens, it was for cosmetic reasons. This was before kyphoscoliosis — an abnormal curvature of the spine both sideways and forward —…
In the family classic “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” all four of Charlie Bucket’s bedridden grandparents share the same sleeping space. It’s a bewildering arrangement that fans have poked fun at throughout the years. Every time I…
“Watch out for that Heidi Brown,” my dad likes to say. “She’ll keep you on your toes.” It’s true. If there’s one thing my mom excels at (and there are many), it’s coming up with the most exquisite…
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