31 Days of SMA: The Things We Don’t Take For Granted

by Kevin Schaefer | August 24, 2019

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Day 24 of 31 Days of SMA⁣⠀ Topic: The Things We Don’t Take for Granted⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ This is @stylesuitemc story⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Yesterday I picked Brady up after an amazing 4 days of MDA Camp. He spent the whole ride home telling me about all the cool things he did this week – rode a horse, flew in a hot air balloon, won a gold medal in archery just to name a few. On our lunch date he told me about this new thing that MDA started doing at camp… each kiddo was asked to write down their one biggest wish. Like, something they’ve been wishing for a long time. Brady’s wish? That someday he will stand… It was said so matter of factly across the table, with no sadness or anger in his tone. That alone caught me off guard, because this conversation is usually had with so much emotion behind it… when he can’t join friends in an activity or feel uncomfortable from a day of being in his braces, this conversation happens. While we remain hopeful for a day that he can take a step, it’s the tiny everyday victories that get us excited the most. Being able to lift his arm up without assistance, spraying the water gun a little further than the week before and finally being able to use a metal fork instead of plastic. All the things able bodied folks take for granted, we celebrate. ⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ #SMAawarenessmonth #CureSMA

A post shared by SMANewsToday (@smanewstoday) on Aug 24, 2019 at 11:58am PDT

About the Author

Kevin Schaefer Kevin Schaefer (he/him) is a writer, podcaster, and lover of all things pop culture. Diagnosed with SMA type 2 at the age of 18 months in 1995, he shares a vast array of hilarious and eye-opening stories from his life with a neuromuscular disability. He works as the associate director of community content for this site’s parent company, BioNews. He also hosts the SMA News Today Podcast. Kevin is a graduate of North Carolina State University and lives with his parents in Cary, NC. People regularly mistake him for Tony Stark, on account of his intellect and advanced technological equipment.