Columns

Taking care of my gynecological health with SMA

Certain things happen when you turn 21. You come of age. You can legally drink in every state in the U.S. And, if you have a cervix, you start getting regular screenings for cervical cancer. I didn’t know that when I turned 21. I wasn’t sexually active at the…

How I make wheelchair doughnuts and young friends

“Connie, can we make some doughnuts?” Two-year-old Eden, with her blond pigtails and soulful blue eyes, asks me this question on a weekly basis. “Of course, sweet girl,” I reply and let her lead me to the carpet in the open space in my living room. “And how many doughnuts…

What it really takes to take me out to the ballgame

If you’re American and have attended a baseball game, then I imagine you’ve probably heard the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Known as the most beloved song in baseball, this classic tune has been an anthem of summer for decades. For most, it’s joyous. It’s…

Navigating the medical mystery of my lower back pain

“I feel like my body is gaslighting me,” I said to my dad in frustration after checking my MRI results. While I was hoping to get some answers, there in plain sight were the words “findings are unremarkable.” Of course, this news was ultimately good. Unremarkable findings meant nothing serious…