Take the Health and Media Habits Survey!The Media Habits Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Managing a chronic condition is not easy and can be physically and mentally exhausting. What types of media...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A Trip to The Dentist with SMAI don’t think there’s anyone that actually enjoys going to the dentist. Now, mix in the fact that this could be quite a unique situation or a difficult one if...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Airline Travel When You Have SMA – Tips, Tricks, and What to Know Before You Go!Traveling when you have SMA can be a daunting undertaking. Many individuals who have SMA have never flown on an airplane. Air travel remains quite inaccessible even in 2022. As...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
ABLE Account InformationLet’s talk about saving money while being on government assistance in the United States. I am on social security disability which is different from supplemental security income but still riddled...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Having Adult BracesPreviously I wrote about getting my wisdom teeth removed and the pre and post-surgery to make sure everything was successful considering my respiratory issues. But the process to fix my...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Massage Therapy and SMAI wrote an article talking about the benefits I have been experiencing from stretching. I also had a long run at receiving massage therapy. Again I’m not a doctor so...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What I Would Tell My Teenage SelfI’m approaching my 33rd year of life, and as I reflect on my younger years, I remember thinking I had it all figured out when I was in my teens...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A Difficult Decision About Scoliosis Surgery For Our DaughterIn the 1980s, my daughter who had spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was growing bigger and taller. We noticed that she was having difficulty sitting upright by herself in her wheelchair...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Sibling LoveI have talked about Mike’s good friends who were always including him with all their adventures. Well, the best friend of all in his younger years was his brother Dan...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Emotional Effects of a Spinal FusionI know many things have advanced in the medical field especially when it comes to spinal fusions. I had mine done at the age of 11 and I know many...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Preparing For TakeoffOver the course of the last 5 years, I have had the opportunity to fly around the country. It had been some time since I had flown. I was going...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Transitioning to Adult CareSomething that’s rarely talked about in the SMA community is the process of transition from pediatric to adult care. It’s hard enough to find a good team of doctors who...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Preparing for Pregnancy When You Have SMA - Questions for You, Your Partner, and Your DoctorDeciding to become pregnant as a female with SMA can be a very big decision. In my case, I knew I had always wanted to be a mom but I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Removing Wisdom Teeth While Dealing with Respiratory IssuesAround the time I got my g-tube, I also realized that I was having problems with my jaw and teeth. After I had braces as a teenager, I never had...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Bullying on Social MediaSocial media has opened up a wealth of connections and information to people all over the world and is an important access tool for people with disabilities who may be...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Administrative Bent of People with SMAWhy we make great leaders, parents, and executives: If you were born in the last 40 years, there’s a good chance that you have taken some form of personality or...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Rare Disease DayThe last day of February is Rare Disease Day! To celebrate and acknowledge this important day in the rare disease community, we asked our advocates: What does Rare Disease Day...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Expense of Maintaining a Power ChairI know I have mentioned this before but it’s worth repeating. Having a disability is expensive. It’s one of the aspects of the disability that is probably not thought about...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Misery of Accessible House HuntingSearching for a dream home or apartment is a daunting task and even more so for a person with a disability. There aren’t any laws that mandate accessible requirements within...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Coming Up With A Treatment PlanRecently this topic was suggested to me and to be honest, I have sat with my feelings on this for quite some time. If you are reading this as a...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments