Posts by: Ryan Berhar

Ryan Berhar

Ryan Berhar is a simple man from Bend, Oregon. While he aspires to one day become a sit-down comedian, he has recently developed a passion for writing.. He loves sharing his life experiences with people, and bringing awareness to his disease. His two favorite things are sports and coffee.

February 27, 2020February 26, 2020

I Have Complicated Feelings About Rare Disease Day

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

With Rare Disease Day coming up on Feb. 29, one question in particular has been circling the SMA community: “What makes you rare?” Anyone affected by a rare disease ... Read more

January 30, 2020January 28, 2020

‘Mamba Mentality’: A Legacy Beyond Basketball

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

Anyone who knows me knows that sports are my favorite thing in the world. Although football is my most beloved sport, basketball has a more personal element to it. ... Read more

August 29, 2019September 4, 2019

Baby Steps: Breaking Free from Analysis Paralysis

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

2018 was my best year in a long time. I acquired a JACO robotic arm, got more work, and made a little more money. This January also saw a ... Read more

August 1, 2019August 7, 2019

Prepared for the Worst: How I Navigated an Outdoor Wedding

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

With the annual Cure SMA Conference having recently wrapped up, the topic of travel has once again leaped to the forefront of discussion in the SMA community. The conference ... Read more

June 20, 2019June 27, 2019

A Wheelchair Malfunction Reminded Me How Fragile My Reality Is

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

As someone living with SMA, I rely on various machines and medical equipment to function and stay alive. While I’ve never been blind to this, I often take my ... Read more

May 16, 2019May 15, 2019

Good Can Come from Things That Are Intrinsically Bad

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

Everyone with SMA has their own view of life with the condition, and for that matter, of life itself. However, after talking with some contributors to the SMA News ... Read more

April 25, 2019April 23, 2019

Processing My Two Best Friends’ Engagements

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

I’ve dedicated columns to my two best friends Darren and Sam before. They’ve been pillars in my life for as long as I can remember. While I’m a few ... Read more

April 18, 2019April 17, 2019

Looking for Silver Linings in SMA

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

SMA is obviously a chiefly negative condition. I don’t think that requires any explanation. However, living with this disease also has a few silver linings, which I’m always looking ... Read more

April 11, 2019April 18, 2019

Striving for Contentment Amid Monotony

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

New life experiences are welcomed when you’re a columnist. I’ve already written about notable stories from my past, and I generally don’t enjoy sharing my two cents on current ... Read more

March 28, 2019March 27, 2019

My Bout with Pneumonia Brings Back Ugly Memories

Columns, Refined By Fire - a Column by Ryan Berhar

My nearly three-year streak of good health came to a screeching halt at the beginning of March. I guess you could say March Madness came a little early for ... Read more