Columns

A few weeks ago, my mom and I went to Junk Bonanza, a vintage market that’s held twice a year at the local horse racing track. I feel twice my age while I’m there, but it’s a chance for Mom and…

“Houston, we’re not in kindergarten anymore,” I said as we looked at our reflections in the mirror. My hair was carefully pinned back just right. My makeup was meticulously applied, and a Burgundy gown gently draped over the footplates of my wheelchair. To my right was my best friend, Amanda,…

I’m a flop at remembering details and dates. However, 1997 is the exception. On July 7, 1997, our dog Duffy was killed by a car, sparking a conversation with my son Jeffrey’s older siblings about death, heaven, and God’s role. One week later, on July…

We picked up our modified van from our local Honda dealership. The mechanics replaced parts from the door’s mechanism, but it still doesn’t work properly. The company that carried out the original modifications needs to look at it. Right now, we are no better off than before.

“Can I leave?” is a line from my last column. Not many would say that to a possible multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. But by that point, I wanted to be anywhere else. I tend to handle diagnoses well. I knew nothing more…

“I was once the proud owner of a Jaguar,” is one of my go-to statements whenever I play “two truths and a lie.” If you haven’t heard of the game, it’s typically an icebreaker in which a participant tells two facts and a lie about themselves and the others must…

Ella is the youngest of the three Casten children. Ava, her sister, is 12, and Henry, her brother, is 10. Ella, who turned 9 in June, comes right behind Henry. My wife, Lindsay, and I planned it that way so that they would share common interests…

It’s a normal day. Well, mostly a normal day. My parents come into my room at about 4 a.m. to tell my sister and I that they love us and that they’re heading out. They have a three-hour drive to the airport, and then an hour flight. Their first flight.

My summer was a roller coaster of ups and downs. Amid all of my adventures and celebratory occasions, I also dealt with loss and my fair share of chaos. That’s life with SMA in a nutshell.  June began with a rush of excitement. I took a…

As my 22nd birthday rapidly approaches, I almost can’t comprehend it. The thought of my birthday has seemed surreal for the past several days. To most people, turning 22 probably isn’t that big of a deal. You don’t get to do anything new. Your friends start to tease you about…