I’ve always considered water a healing element. During toddlerhood, my mom connected me with an aquatic therapy center owned by a warm-hearted occupational therapist named Suzy. I swam weekly until my young adult years, when the scenery of my life evolved. I was off to college, and my therapist…
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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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 the routine of our daily needs. Our schedule finally cruises along swimmingly — then suddenly, life…
Dear Mom and Dad, In the wake of FDA approval of Zolgensma, jubilant feelings soar like a kite, beyond the boundaries of wonderful to the highest altitude of hope. Mom, we recently had lunch together and chatted about new SMA treatments and their incredible impact on SMA families. You…
Can you recall a day that shines brightly in your mind, as you were immersed in the beauty of nature and adventure all at once? Is there a time when your lungs inflated with a deep breath of peaceful fulfillment after the day unfolded, and even though the panoramic landscape…
I can’t sit still during a great classic rock tune. Despite my SMA, any muscle fibers that have remained awake will begin to shimmy and shake, and even the muscles that have become withered wallflowers will try to bust a move on the dance floor. When I heard the “…
I recently spoke at an event called “OutWiGo Girls” for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the enchanting woodland area of Kettle Moraine State Forest. Held in celebration of gals of all ages who share a love of exploring nature, the event’s agenda revolved around an array of…
In our free time together, my partner, Andy, and I enjoy adventuring. I’m not talking about the classic mammoth-sized endeavors represented by the swingin’ satchels of Indiana Jones or the sun-faded explorer hats of Josh Gates. What I refer to as “adventure” is a mindset of how I…
Like many others with SMA, my functional dexterity is limited. I’m grateful to still have the ability to write legibly, type on my keyboard, and maneuver my nimble fingers into the snug corners of a Pringles can. But I do see my hands as “SMA hands.” When performing a…
I’m a strong, 30-something woman with SMA who feels beautiful, inside and out. One of the most meaningful compliments I’ve ever received was scrawled across the top of an essay written for a high school English literature class. In bold red ink, my graded paper exclaimed: “Finally! A dissenter…
Let me tell you about a summer to remember, a time when I journeyed to distant lands where magic danced across darkness and light. My wheels rolled beyond emerald hills that swelled with fellowship and togetherness. Acts of kindness smiled upon heavy hearts. Dining tables abundant with food were garnished…
Tucked away near the rustic shores of a quaint lake sits my childhood home: a ranch house built of sincere brick and steadfast mortar. A wistful flowering crab tree adorns the front yard with tendrils of wisdom, its fuchsia blossoms bursting at the arrival of each new spring. Swirls of…
We are all affected by changes that call for us to acclimate to the seasons of our lives. Year after year, a wildflower finds its place under the sun. Spry leaves will droop in heavy sorrow during the drenching spring rains. A sturdy stem will bend in summer whirlwinds that dishevel…
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