How ripples of hope can overcome the storms of life
The weather can affect those of us with SMA in ways that many people wouldn’t think of. For example, I wish I could just enjoy looking out of the window as the snow falls, with everything…
Columns
With our SMA assignment, glasses didn’t help me to see clearly
I learned my vision needed assistance in fifth grade. Although I unwittingly squinted at the chalkboard, my report cards never indicated a problem. I was a model student because I adored my teacher, Mrs. Chandler. I…
Navigating another winter while living with SMA
Stephen King’s “The Shining” shows what happens when someone spends too much time cooped up indoors. Sure, supernatural forces provide the basis for the main character’s descent into madness, but a defining element of the novel is that it takes…
Saying so long to a year of countless doctor appointments
It takes a rather large team of specialists and various medical professionals to help manage my care alongside me and my mom, who’s my primary caregiver. That means I have to attend lots of doctor appointments. I’d…
A respiratory illness left me fighting for my life
As I lay in bed, willing my body to find some energy to write this column, a notification popped up on my phone. According to USA Today, a “quadruple whammy of viruses” had been spreading across the country.
Empathy is the heartbeat of human connections
Empathy is often described as the ability to imagine yourself in another’s shoes, see the world through their eyes, and feel the weight of their experiences as if they were yours. But empathy is more than just a fleeting sense…
The surprise ‘angel intervention’ linking SMA, Helene, and football
I’ve mentioned before that I don’t always know what I’ll cover in this column when the time comes. It sure eases the anxiety level when I have a clue, though. Our SMA assignment with our third…
I’m hydrating this new year thanks to an external catheter system
Let me explain something called “pee math.” I was familiar with the concept, but didn’t realize it was a common experience in the SMA community until a colleague brought it up. It goes like…
I’d like to say good riddance to 2024, but instead I’ll focus on gratitude
Four must be my unlucky number, because the worst years of my life have all ended in four: 2014, the year of major depression, and 2024, the year of suck. (I’m sure 2004…
Even if they don’t stay long, ‘people come into our lives for a reason’
“Wicked” is the musical movie superstar of the moment. I loved “The Wizard of Oz” growing up, and while I haven’t seen the wildly popular adaptation on stage or screen, it’s impossible not…