Posts by: Michael Casten

Michael Casten

Michael Casten is married and a father of three, one being a child with SMA Type 2 (born in June, 2011). He has been an educator and has worked directly with children and their families since 1994. He loves his family, writing, working with his hands, and taking road trips. Michael holds a BS in Psychology (1994) and a MA in Education (2001).

June 3, 2020June 1, 2020

Ella Skips a Level in Choir

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Ella has always loved to sing. Because she can’t join physical activities or play an instrument, we decided to enroll her in the Young Naperville Singers (YNS) choir. Ella ... Read more

May 27, 2020May 21, 2020

Ella’s Spinraza Treatment Looks Different Due to COVID-19

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

My alarm went off at 7:09 a.m. I rolled out of bed and walked into Ella’s room. She lay sleeping peacefully. I went downstairs and met both dogs, who ... Read more

May 20, 2020May 18, 2020

Ella Must Test for COVID-19 Before Her Next Sprinraza Treatment

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Ella looks forward to her Spinraza (nusinersen) treatments for SMA. She knows that Spinraza helps her get stronger. And while she doesn’t like the smell of the anesthesia, she ... Read more

May 13, 2020May 11, 2020

Ella Flourishes Despite SMA

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Ella has not been out of the house for weeks. She spends much of her time doing schoolwork. Every morning, her teacher has a class meeting on Zoom. Ella ... Read more

May 6, 2020May 4, 2020

Ella’s Got Talent

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Ella is a social person. She loves developing relationships with others and is always up for a family night. She builds delicate yet sturdy friendships with people and navigates ... Read more

April 29, 2020April 27, 2020

Our Children Have Learned to Express Empathy

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

All three of our kids — Ava, Henry, and Ella — have been stuck inside the house for a month or so due to COVID-19 quarantine. They’ve been finishing ... Read more

April 22, 2020April 20, 2020

Ella Is Finding Ways to Stay Busy During the Quarantine

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Like everybody else, Ella has been kept in the house because of COVID-19. During the school week, she spends much of her morning working on classroom assignments. Each morning ... Read more

April 15, 2020April 13, 2020

The Casten Kids Show Their Maturity During Quarantine

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

Spring is peering its head around the corner of winter. Some warm days with slight winds blow the remaining leaves around in swirls. Small yellow flowers poke themselves up ... Read more

April 8, 2020April 6, 2020

The Casten Kids Get a New Puppy

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

It was a sad time when our dear Potter had to be put to sleep because he had T-cell lymphoma. Our entire family went along for that, including Potter’s ... Read more

April 1, 2020March 27, 2020

The Casten Kids Find Privacy for E-learning

Columns, Five Servings of Strength- a column by Michael Casten

School books, folders, random scratch paper, art supplies, food, drinks. All of this lay aimlessly on our kitchen table. Until recently, my children — Ava, Henry, and Ella — ... Read more

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