Diagnosed at 5 months of age, Alyssa has set out to raise awareness about life with SMA Type I through writing. By getting personal and being open about her trials and triumphs, she wants the world to know that SMA can put up a good fight, but we can always fight back exceedingly harder. Aside from writing, Alyssa is the community director for an adaptive fashion brand and has founded her own nonprofit called Working On Walking. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops within a 50-mile radius of her hometown in Rhode Island.Although Mother Nature seems to have other plans lately, the days crossed off our calendars have us inching closer and closer to summer. Ah, yes, summertime, when the weather is fine and everyone feels extra self-conscious about their “summer bods.” Achieving that “perfect” beach body is at the…
On April 10, social media exploded with pictures and posts pinned with #NationalSiblingsDay. Using it, people shared sweet or comical words about their siblings and what they mean to them. I, too, was among the millions of posts shared. However, it was difficult for me to condense…
While taking care of ourselves physically is always the number one priority, it is also mindful to nurture our emotional well-being in the same regard. Living with SMA means enduring added obstacles and challenges that can, at times, become overwhelming, and so it’s important to take the time…
If you’re anything like me, then you are just as excited about the turn of the season that happened a few days ago. It is officially spring, here in the Northern Hemisphere of the world. Pretty soon, cherry blossoms will begin to bloom again, the sun will grace…
“Well, Alyssa, I’ve certainly experienced many firsts thanks to you,” my mother said as a nurse untied the surgical gown from her back. I’m sure we all have our fair share of firsts when it comes to living with a disease in which the unexpected becomes the expected.
Some of my biggest lessons have come from my toughest messes. To me, that’s the best way to grow. It’s the best way to move forward and come to terms with the challenges and obstacles people with SMA face on a daily basis. However, being able to learn…
For the Silva family, cleaning out the basement in recent weeks has become a trip down memory lane. Pictures strewn in boxes tell stories of my childhood and how my parents did everything in their power to give me a “normal” childhood. Old textbooks remind of all the…
As a child, during the summer months, the neighborhood kids and I spent our days on the corner of my yard selling lemonade to passersby. My mother would help us prepare the drinks, she’d supply the napkins and cups, and she’d write out on a big poster…
My parents say it was another beautiful, sunny Saturday in April. They had two perfect children, a boy and a girl, like they had always wanted, and they couldn’t wait to finally start a family together. However, the merriment that usually filled the room suddenly stopped on that…
Coming to you, live from my couch and in yesterday’s clothes, this column is all about how I made a mistake. Truth be told, I’m not happy about admitting it. But with these words and with these columns, I made a promise to myself to always show up…
