Alyssa Silva,  —

Alyssa Silva is a writer based out of Providence, Rhode Island. She was diagnosed with SMA type 1 in 1991 when she was just 5 months old. Aside from writing, Alyssa is the chief creative officer for an intimates brand and runs a small business selling her artwork. In her free time, you can find her canceling plans to hang out with her golden retrievers, watching reruns of "The Office," and convincing others why Taylor Swift is the greatest of all time.

Articles by Alyssa Silva

Managing My Physical Health Takes a Huge Mental Toll

I got out of my van at the hospital for what felt like the millionth time that month, and I could hear the deafening sound of a helicopter landing above me. Though hundreds of feet above, its whirling sound ricocheted off the buildings and echoed down below. The sound vibrated…

SMA Is Part of My Identity, and I’m Proud of It

I came close to starting my first-ever Facebook war recently. Well, not exactly. My conscience quickly kicked in and my mother became my sounding board instead. After reading a comment from a stranger on the internet, I had a lot to say. Sadly, I’m almost immune to the negative feedback…

With SMA, My Voice Makes Me Feel Self-conscious

Does anybody actually like the sound of their own voice? Unless you’re a gifted singer, that was a rhetorical question. I come from a musically inclined family, so they tend to say yes when I ask this question. But for me and many of those outside my family, the answer…