Columns

Ava’s Identity Consists of More than Sisterhood

Ava started junior high school this past fall. It’s the first time she’s attended a different school from her brother, Henry, and her sister with SMA, Ella. She made the transition smoothly, waking up before everybody else to catch the 7:15 a.m. bus, navigating the halls of her…

The Most Helpful Technologies I Use

Between smartphones, artificial intelligence, and social media platforms that allow people to post cat memes and political ramblings, it often feels like we live in a never-ending episode of “Star Trek.” Things that were once science fiction are now components of our everyday reality.

Finding Gratitude in the Waves

A few weeks ago, I attended one of the National Institute of Mental Health state conferences to fulfill a class requirement. It was an all-day affair, with tote bags and name tags and a catered luncheon. It was all very professional, and as a result,…

Adventures with Anaphylaxis

Every time I think I’ve run out of things to write about, life throws me a curveball. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been getting allergy shots on a pretty regular basis. The science behind allergy shots might seem a bit counterintuitive:…

My Love-Hate Relationship with the Holidays

I’d imagine if anyone who knows me were to describe me in one sentence, it would go something like this: “Oh, Alyssa? She’s that writer girl who runs a nonprofit organization for her disease, drinks way too much coffee for her own good, and has an unhealthy obsession…