Halsey is a young woman living with SMA Type I. She received this diagnosis at the age of 15 months after her parents sought multiple doctors’ opinions and genetic testing — a process that has since been made much easier with today’s technology and understanding of the disease. Halsey is an avid reader and enjoys art and crock pot cooking. She also enjoys serving as a volunteer for a disability center in her home state of Indiana. She is now pursuing her writing dream with the hope of offering glimpses into everyday life with SMA and challenging readers to look for the positive in every situation.One of my favorite discoveries during my family’s recent vacation on St. Simons Island was the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on neighboring Jekyll Island. The center rehabilitates sea turtles and local wildlife in need of medical care so they can be released back into their natural…
Maybe you’ve noticed from my past columns that my family enjoys traveling. We’ve been blessed to visit a variety of destinations together, but we’re repeatedly drawn to locations with scenic coastlines and warm climates. My mom books all of our family trips. With a lifetime of…
(Note: This column contains spoilers for the movie “Five Feet Apart.”) The 2019 movie “Five Feet Apart” focuses on a young couple, Stella and Will, who fall in love while receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF). Their love is dangerous, though, because coming within 6 feet…
For kids, February tends to entail a Valentine’s Day party for every activity, club, or team they’re a part of. Our mom used to take my brother and me to plenty of these parties when we were little, as we were actively involved in church, disability organizations, and our home-schooling…
It seems there are hacks for everything now — little tips and tricks designed to help us get the most out of life while saving time, energy, or money. The internet and media are full of hacks for interior design, organization, cooking, budgeting, traveling, fashion, mindfulness, and just about anything…
When rumors began circulating years ago that a certain blue police box time machine might be getting an accessible makeover, my interest was more than piqued. Would a ramp truly be added to the TARDIS when the British sci-fi show “Doctor Who” returned to the air late…
As Mom and I browsed the bookstore searching for gifts and travel guides for our summer vacation destination, we amused ourselves with the wide selection of books on offer, most of which we would have gladly purchased. Among the myriad titles and genres, we noticed one topic…
A few years ago, I rolled into the local disability center, as I often did at the time, for a day of exercise, crafting, and volunteer work. But because it was Christmas, I’d brought something extra. My nurse carried a stack of cards I’d made for staff…
Throughout my life, the doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who have cared for me have filled out a collective mountain of paperwork. I’m willing to bet that far more of my days have been documented than not. Most charting is electronic now, but there are certainly boxes full of…
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a family favorite around here, with my brother being the biggest fan of us all. He even dressed up as the movie’s main character, Jack Skellington, for Halloween one year. This beloved stop-motion animated movie has become a pop culture icon,…
