A Wildflower in the Wheelderness – a Column by Katie Napiwocki

August 6, 2020August 3, 2020

Heartfelt Cheers and Honest Reflections: Happy 30th Birthday, ADA!

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

Many of my friends with disabilities have been posting about the 30th birthday of a well-known gem, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on ... Read more

July 9, 2020July 7, 2020

14 Trips Around the Sun

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

Have I ever told you that my significant other, Andy, has Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)? Or that we met as kids at MDA Summer Camp? We did, indeed. Our ... Read more

June 4, 2020June 2, 2020

Waiting for Fireflies

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

Dusk was settling in. The sun had clocked out for the day, and as it traveled farther and farther away toward its sleeping quarters, the moonlight grew radiant in ... Read more

May 14, 2020May 12, 2020

The Blue Typhoon

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

Here in the Midwest, “going for a drive” is an authentic thing. When the tall grass gleams in the golden hour of a lazy Sunday afternoon, countryside rustic roads ... Read more

April 30, 2020April 29, 2020

The Sunflower and the Hummingbird

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

I’ve noticed a trend in social media posts lately: Many of us are missing out on highly anticipated plans. Glorious vacation itineraries have been crumpled. Getaway maps have been ... Read more

April 2, 2020March 31, 2020

In a Mad World, I Turn Toward Nature’s Grace

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

My cellphone vibrated atop my kneecap. I glanced down at the screen. An alert emerged from a local news app: A case of COVID-19 had been identified in my ... Read more

March 12, 2020March 10, 2020

A Mountain Is a Mountain, no Matter How Small

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

I’ve come down with a fever.  As I sit on my outdoor patio, the tall angle of late February sun kisses my cheeks and warms my bones. From one ... Read more

February 27, 2020February 26, 2020

Discovering Sexual Wellness and Intimacy as a Woman with SMA

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

“So, Katie, how’s your sex life going? Any concerns there?”  With weak neck muscles, I craned my neck sideways and forward in search of eye contact with my gynecologist. ... Read more

February 13, 2020February 11, 2020

Peering Through the Fog of Fear

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

I’ve been on hiatus from writing about my SMA.  Truth be told, I’ve needed to break away from the constant reminder that SMA rules my life. When it wants ... Read more

July 8, 2019July 2, 2019

Lessons from the Porcupine Mountains

A Wildflower in the Wheelderness - a Column by Katie Napiwocki, Columns

Imagine your soul as a canvas that illustrates the story of your life’s journey. Sprawled across an artistic medium, what would your scenery reveal? For some, it would be ... Read more