Columns

  One of Molly McGlone’s many chipmunk friends sits on her shoulder. (Photo courtesy of Molly McGlone) This is Molly McGlone’s story: My name is Molly. I am 28 and live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was diagnosed at…

For years, slogans with the “F-bomb” (for a certain expletive) have expressed utter contempt for catastrophic diseases, social injustices, or whatever else riles folks up. The first such campaign I remember was about cancer. I certainly didn’t disagree with the desire to eliminate the ravages of the disease, but…

  Christie at his 27th birthday party. (Photos courtesy of Luke Christie) This is Luke Christie’s story: In December 2019, I was forced to admit that I could not afford to live on my own. Despite my best efforts, I…

“Hey, buddy, don’t get a speeding ticket!” “When was his last X-ray?” “Oh, wow, you work!” For whatever reason, society loves to infantilize disabled people. It’s practically a hobby for some people, be they medical professionals or middle-aged pedestrians looking to test their comedy skills when they see a…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Evrysdi (risdiplam). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. On our way home from the annual Cure SMA conference, I told my mom, “Wouldn’t it be funny…

Friends Eli Rangel, left, Michelle Corley, center, and Tyler Dukes, right, attend the 2023 Cure SMA conference at Disney World. (Photos courtesy of Eli Rangel) This is Eli Rangel’s story: Picture this: Two teens sitting in the back of high school English class, playing…

On the second Saturday of every August, the setting sun fades and is replaced by the ethereal glow of candlelight. Around the world, the SMA community comes together for a twilight vigil to remember our loved ones who have departed and to honor those living with SMA. Candle-bearing…

My love for the beach has always been passionate yet complicated. Sure, it’s my happy place. The sound of ocean waves crashing into the shore, the peacefulness that envelops me when I reach the sand and feel that salty breeze, the way the sunshine hits during those early…

Eloise Pillarella enjoys an accessible hike through an autumn forest during a visit back to New Paltz, New York, her college town. (Courtesy of Eloise Pillarella) This is Eloise Pillarella’s story: Being a high school science teacher with spinal muscular atrophy has taught…

For the past two years, my best friend and fellow columnist, Brianna Albers, and I held a tradition of collaborating with each other for SMA Awareness Month. We’ve written companion columns about the pros and cons of our respective countries (she lives in the U.S., while…