Cold and Flu Season...The time of year is upon us when the temps are dropping, the holidays are approaching and the terrifying “F” word is among us. I know that most parents do...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Memories of the Labor Day Telethon...I’m sure we all can remember that Labor Day meant watching the Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. It was always an emotional experience for me. My senior year of high...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
FeaturedA Letter to Your Younger Self ...What's one thing you would tell your younger self with SMA? Comment below and start the discussion....Reactions0reactionsComments0 replies
Disability Benefits...Conditions like spinal muscular atrophy may prevent you from working, as well as be expensive to treat. Getting approved for disability benefits from the US Social Security Administration (SSA) can...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Diet and Nutrition ...Hello everyone, I need advice. I'm really struggling to figure out food. I don't see any recipes I like online that are soft for me and/or healthy. I want to...Reactions0reactionsComments2 replies
Adjusting to Life’s Transitions...Life consists of transitions both large and small. One could argue that transitions are good and bad. I would argue that life would be extremely boring if we never had...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Is the Social Health Network?...Like our other Health Union condition communities, the Social Health Network brings people together to drive unique and impactful conversations about health. It also aims to expand opportunities for health...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Working on Mental Toughness...I wrote an article a while back, “Staying Mentally Healthy.” In that article, I attributed a lot of my mental toughness to my circumstances. Most importantly growing up in a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Decision to Change our Lifestyle for our Daughter...Jessie and her brother were born twins. It is important to realize that she was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) at six months of age. My son did not...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Telling Loved Ones About Your Child's SMA Diagnosis...After getting news that your child has a serious illness like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), you will likely turn to family and friends for support. Here are some things to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Wedding Dresses and Wheelchairs...Since I was a little girl I dreamt of the day that I would “walk” down the aisle on my big day. I didn’t think about the logistics as a...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Making Dreams A Reality...How has SMA affected your biggest, wildest dreams? Were you still able to make that dream a reality or did you have to adapt/change your expectations? Start the conversation here....Reactions0reactionsComments0 repliesCoping
A Village of Healthcare Professionals...We quickly needed a village of professionals. Our daughter, Jessie, was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) back in 1974. We quickly realized that we needed to plan for a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Finding Financial Assistance for Treatment...Many illnesses, such as spinal muscular atrophy, come with steep price tags. Once you have a diagnosis, navigating treatment expenses can be challenging. Insurance plans cover some expenses. But out-of-pocket...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Good Days: A Resource for Financial Help...I’ve talked about the “disability tax” in previous articles. You’ll hear people who have a physical disability use this term. It basically refers to the extra expenses that are incurred...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Resources for Assistance...What non-profit organizations have you found helpful? What services do they provide (financial, caregiving, other supportive services)?...Reactions0reactionsComments0 repliesCost
Navigating School Accommodations for Children With SMA...The United States government has many laws that protect rights to education for children with disabilities. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is considered an orthopedic impairment under these laws. This means...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
That Hospital Stay and One Nurse in the ICU...In 1974, my wife and myself were frightened when the Pediatric Neurologist diagnosed my daughter, Jessie, with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) when she was less than a year old. During...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
FeaturedThank A Healthcare Professional Discussion Board...Do you have a favorite doctors/specialist? Maybe someone who went above and beyond for you during a hospital stay? Give them a shout out and tell us their story....Reactions0reactionsComments1 repliesHealthcare Team
Finding Halloween...The festive side of the year is around the corner, and that always gets me excited! A key part of living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) for me has always...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments