Finding light in the winters of life with SMA
A few weeks ago, I glanced out my window and instinctively squinted. Before me was my backyard covered in a…
Articles by Alyssa Silva
How new SMA treatments are turning hope into reality
Last month, the biotechnology company Scholar Rock submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requesting approval of…
A respiratory illness left me fighting for my life
As I lay in bed, willing my body to find some energy to write this column, a notification popped up…
Finding gratitude, even amid the toughest battles of life with SMA
Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often means facing many hardships and uncertainties. With physical limitations, emotional hurdles, and…
Why is listening to my body when I’m ill so hard to do?
“No, I’m totally fine” are often my famous last words when I’m actually not fine at all. Sometimes when an…
Practicing self-compassion while facing SMA challenges
“Alyssa, this is the best you’ve ever looked to me,” my gastroenterologist recently exclaimed during a routine appointment. Though I…
Don’t underestimate the importance of routines in life with SMA
Every morning, my dog, Stella, impatiently waits for me to wake up. While it’s true that she loves me,…
I found myself in unfamiliar territory when my ventilator died
I’ve slept with a BiPAP machine every night since I was 1 year old. (I’m 33 now.) This noninvasive…
Finding a temporary escape from the challenges of living with SMA
With every caw of a seagull and crash of a wave against the shore, I swore I felt every stressor…
A dream, a lemonade stand, and the importance of giving back
As I stared at the rolling green hills before me, I wondered what 8-year-old Alyssa would have thought of this…