My wheelchair is not a hindrance, but a gateway to the world
Whenever I think about how I started driving my wheelchair at 3 years old, I always wonder, “Whose great idea…
Articles by Alyssa Silva
A recent trip to the beach prompts me to reassess myself and my health
Some of life’s best lessons come from the beach. Don’t you agree? Maybe it’s because I’m a solar-powered soul, but…
Combating 3 misconceptions about living with SMA
While living with SMA, I’ve been on the receiving end of many people’s misconceptions about the disease. To an…
The isolating reality of navigating cold and flu season with SMA
There’s an old adage that says March comes in like a lion, but where I’m from, it comes in more…
How a friend helped me find gratitude in an unexpected place
Something you may not know about me is that I have two homes. My first abode is a one-story home…
New medical equipment reminds me of the harsh reality of SMA
“OK, SMA. You win,” I thought after signing off from a virtual meeting. I didn’t know how it was…
3 productivity hacks I use while living with SMA
Among the many SMA symptoms I live with every day, fatigue has permanently staked out its territory at the…
My zebra spots are why I raise rare disease awareness
As many readers of this column may know, SMA is considered a rare disease. But what…
In life with SMA, I’ve learned to go with the flow
Life doesn’t always flow the way it’s supposed to, and by “flow,” I mean literally. I’ve recently been experiencing a…
COVID-19 kept me from saying goodbye to my grandmother
Sobbing a blubbery and snotty cry while waiting for an elevator was likely my rock-bottom moment in January. I’d just…