A Season for Bumblebees and a Time for Warriors
It’s late August. The songs written by crickets in May have been arranged into full summer soundtracks, playing on loops of background music from dawn to dusk and moonrise to moonset. The aroma…
A Wildflower in the Wheelderness — Katie Napiwocki
Katie is a Wisconsin girl at heart who strives to paint with her words, illustrating a soulful connection with nature and inclusive outdoor adventure. She was diagnosed with SMA (type 2) during toddlerhood. With a background in Human Development & Family Studies, she finds fulfillment in encouraging others to embrace their distinctive beauty. When she’s not engaging in advocacy, you’ll likely find her hiking an accessible trail, adoring a sunset, or eating a s’more somewhere beside the three brightest rays of sunlight in her life — her partner, Nick, and his two awesome kiddos. Follow her story on Instagram @wheelprintsalongthewildflowers.
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Keep an open mind, and 3 other tips for working with caregivers
As SMAers, we’ve probably all been there. We work tirelessly to build a caregiving team. We train, explain, and expose the inner workings of our dignity. We allow new hands and energy into…
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A Damselfly Dances in the Face of Ableism
As we drove into the parking lot adjacent to a tried and true trailhead, the hollow moon had climbed into the bluest corner of the sky. Drifting thunderheads were perched atop the distant tree…
Heartfelt Cheers and Honest Reflections: Happy 30th Birthday, ADA!
Many of my friends with disabilities have been posting about the 30th birthday of a well-known gem, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This…
14 Trips Around the Sun
Have I ever told you that my significant other, Andy, has Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)? Or that we met as kids at MDA Summer Camp? We did, indeed. Our hometowns sat about…
Waiting for Fireflies
Dusk was settling in. The sun had clocked out for the day, and as it traveled farther and farther away toward its sleeping quarters, the moonlight grew radiant in the stillness of the evening.
The Blue Typhoon
Here in the Midwest, “going for a drive” is an authentic thing. When the tall grass gleams in the golden hour of a lazy Sunday afternoon, countryside rustic roads beckon people to roll their…
The Sunflower and the Hummingbird
I’ve noticed a trend in social media posts lately: Many of us are missing out on highly anticipated plans. Glorious vacation itineraries have been crumpled. Getaway maps have been folded up and tucked into…
In a Mad World, I Turn Toward Nature’s Grace
My cellphone vibrated atop my kneecap. I glanced down at the screen. An alert emerged from a local news app: A case of COVID-19 had been identified in my small city. I was sitting…
A Mountain Is a Mountain, no Matter How Small
I’ve come down with a fever. As I sit on my outdoor patio, the tall angle of late February sun kisses my cheeks and warms my bones. From one bare tree branch to…
Discovering Sexual Wellness and Intimacy as a Woman with SMA
“So, Katie, how’s your sex life going? Any concerns there?” With weak neck muscles, I craned my neck sideways and forward in search of eye contact with my gynecologist. His head and bow…
Peering Through the Fog of Fear
I’ve been on hiatus from writing about my SMA. Truth be told, I’ve needed to break away from the constant reminder that SMA rules my life. When it wants to, SMA tosses…
Lessons from the Porcupine Mountains
Imagine your soul as a canvas that illustrates the story of your life’s journey. Sprawled across an artistic medium, what would your scenery reveal? For some, it would be a river of peaceful waters…
