Living

We appreciate you taking the time to answer all of our questions. Your responses will help us better understand life with spinal muscular atrophy. New here? We invite you to...

As a 31-year-old with SMA, Christmas is always pretty exciting. Ever since I was little, I’ve adored the sparkle of December. But, as with anything else, SMA sometimes adds an...

My daughter Stella is two and a half years old. Lately, Stella's development has revolved around exploration. Continuing to push her limits in her wheelchair, choosing (and demanding) her favorite...

"Why is he in a wheelchair?" If I had a dollar every time I heard that phrase, I would be rich. I am an extrovert by nature. I enjoy being...

Let’s begin with what a PCA is, and what a PCA is not. A personal care assistant should entail three things: Personal, Caring, Assisting I know those attributes seem a...

When I was of college age, I was fortunate enough to attend a school that at the time offered a dormitory providing 24/7 care for those with disabilities. I was...

When I first began to read blogs and see posts about others doing their “self-care,” I remember my first thought: “Well I can’t do it “myself,” so it feels more...

Growing up, I never felt embarrassed or ashamed of the extensive medical equipment that was on display in my bedroom. A BiPAP, suction machine, air concentrator, cough assist, pulse-ox monitor...

Suzanne and I met over 6 years ago. We both had an attraction to each other. Our friendship grew into a relationship. As we spent more time with each other...

Sometimes I just want to stand up and fling my arms around or jump or spin really fast until I’m dizzy and fall on the floor. It’s the feeling when...

I mentioned this program briefly before. This was extremely helpful to our situation when we first were introduced to it in 1995. The goal of this program was to assist...

I remember being a child and having very bold discussions with health care providers regarding my weight. Their focus was a clinical view of my body. Remember you cannot gain...

If you’re following along, this is Part 4 of my story. The first three articles are linked below: The event that prompted this long story was that I had to...

So, the fourth Thursday of every November in the US is Thanksgiving. For our international friends, it is a national holiday centered around giving thanks for any blessings experienced during...

This is a topic that I think the world is expanding upon: fashion within the disability world. For a long time, I think there was an idea out there that...

Most people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) need care from multiple doctors. Regular doctor’s visits help you or your child manage breathing, nutrition, and movement. This can help improve...

I touched on this topic a little in my article “How Expensive Is That Minivan.” I drove without any driving adaptations for 24 years. Driving gave me freedom, an opportunity to...

With college behind him, it was now time for Mike to apply for that first job in the business world. I know that if you are a young adult with...

Recently I’ve read a few posts regarding being disabled and having friends. One was in a Muscular Dystrophy Facebook group where someone shared that their good friend is getting married...

We all just survived a pandemic. That is no small feat! As the holidays come around, we are going to be surrounded by greater volumes of people with differing opinions...