Columns

When I was younger, I enjoyed the hyperactive nature of the teacup ride at Disney World. My mom hated it, but my dad was willing to accompany my siblings and me on this headache-inducing extravaganza. Spinning around inside a giant teacup from “Alice in Wonderland” was enough to entertain…

Second in a series. Read part one. As a kid, I participated in the time-honored tradition of learning about love through movies. I knew better than to fall for the more extravagant depictions. But that didn’t stop me from putting my own spin on things. By the time…

One glance at my medical records will very clearly tell you that I’m not exactly healthy. The information contained within my chart includes a primary diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy type 1 and a list of medications prescribed to treat that disease and manage its…

I came close to starting my first-ever Facebook war recently. Well, not exactly. My conscience quickly kicked in and my mother became my sounding board instead. After reading a comment from a stranger on the internet, I had a lot to say. Sadly, I’m almost immune to the negative…

“I haven’t had cancer since I was 11 months old!” our cheery granddaughter recently proclaimed. Clara turned 7 at the end of December. She’s witty, imaginative, spunky, highly entertaining, candid, cute, and sharp. Sometimes, though, her facts are a bit skewed. She’s never had cancer. …

First in a series. When it comes to New Year’s, there are two types of people. Either you subscribe to the magic of a new year, or you believe there’s nothing inherently special about Jan. 1. Or maybe you’re more like me. While the optimist in you wants to…

A few years ago, I started listening to comedian Chris Gethard’s podcast, “Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People.” The premise of the show is that people call in, and whoever gets through talks with Gethard about any subject they want for an hour. The only condition is that…

I have been waiting my entire life. Waiting for someone to love me. Waiting for the snow to melt. Waiting for my skin to clear so I could leave the house without feeling like an embarrassment of a human being. Years ago, in 2019, I wrote a column about…

I’ve never been the type of person to set goals. I realize how this could be misconstrued. But the truth is I’m not lazy or unmotivated. In fact, I pride myself on being determined. I’ve always been willing to take on new challenges and write my…

Despite its well-reported benefits in motor function, the gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) may not be as effective at preventing or easing breathing problems at night in young children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a small real-world study. Nighttime breathing problems were found to occur in…