Columns

I didn’t intend to write another column about The Virus, at least not right after my last one, but it seemed appropriate to share a surprising revelation from after my baby was diagnosed with the deadliest form of spinal muscular atrophy. My husband,…

Spring is peering its head around the corner of winter. Some warm days with slight winds blow the remaining leaves around in swirls. Small yellow flowers poke themselves up through the hardened ground. Buds are forming on tree branches and birds chirp a new song for the upcoming…

Amid the cluster of medical equipment, my childhood bedroom had an even more distinguishable feature: buckets and buckets of plastic action figures. I had everything from six-inch “Star Wars” figurines to characters from the beloved Nickelodeon series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” I could…

“I hate to say it,” my dad said, “but you’re getting a little heavy.” A miracle, really, when you consider my base weight of 50 pounds. I was a baby for the longest time. A young adult in a preteen body. One of my biggest challenges…

This week is my first work anniversary here at SMA News Today. It’s crazy to think that I’ve had this spectacular job for an entire year. There are so many things that I could tell you about this past year, but instead, I’d like to take…

My body has never handled stress well. Come to think of it, does anyone respond well to stress? Typically, my body reacts to stress in the form of gastrointestinal issues. This comes as no surprise considering I’ve dealt with acid reflux disease…

It was a sad time when our dear Potter had to be put to sleep because he had T-cell lymphoma. Our entire family went along for that, including Potter’s sister, Ginny. We knew our 3-year-old dog wouldn’t make it, so before he left us, we contacted a…

Editor’s note: This column discusses some of the plot of Netflix’s documentary film “Crip Camp.” A new Netflix documentary called “Crip Camp” opens with an eclectic credits sequence set to the tune of “For What it’s Worth…

I keep hearing about “making the most of quarantine.” Learn a new skill! Finish that book you’ve been reading for months! Plant a garden! The possibilities are endless. The issue is that productivity and survival are two sides of the trauma response…

My cellphone vibrated atop my kneecap. I glanced down at the screen. An alert emerged from a local news app: A case of COVID-19 had been identified in my small city. I was sitting in our living room with a grateful heart, looking out the windows as the downy glow…