Embracing My Inner Alien – a column by Kevin Schaefer

October 16, 2018October 12, 2018

On Turning 25

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

I turn 25 in a few days, which for me is a pretty substantial accomplishment. After four broken legs, two major surgeries, multiple run-ins with pneumonia, a couple of ... Read more

October 9, 2018October 5, 2018

Lessons from My Former Editor

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

At the time of writing this, it’s been one week since the company I work for lost one of its true titans. On Sept. 26, our senior managing columns ... Read more

October 2, 2018October 11, 2018

Pity and Empathy: There Is a Difference

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

A few months ago at church, an usher came up to me and made a gesture that was — in his mind — “nice.” Seeing me, the young guy in ... Read more

September 25, 2018September 28, 2018

Hey, Hollywood, Let Netflix’s ‘The Dragon Prince’ Inspire How You Portray Disability

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

Dragons, elves, magic, and a deaf female general are just a few of the things you’ll find in Netflix’s “The Dragon Prince.” The new animated fantasy series from the ... Read more

September 18, 2018September 14, 2018

Why I’m Grateful for My ‘Normal’ Education

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

“Normal” isn’t exactly a word that describes anyone with SMA. We do things differently than most people, have different challenges, and live unabashedly abnormal lives. (Just look at my ... Read more

September 11, 2018September 21, 2018

My Bouts with Diarrhea Are a Time of Great Loathing

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

Yep, I’m going there. If you’re easily turned off by poop jokes, just skip this column. SMA is tough, but diarrhea causes me pain and discomfort unlike anything else. ... Read more

September 4, 2018September 10, 2018

The Woes of Equipment Malfunctions

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

In most superhero comics, movies, and TV shows, there’s usually an arc at some point in which the hero temporarily loses his or her powers. This happens in “Spider-Man ... Read more

August 28, 2018September 21, 2018

On Finding the Right Healthcare Team

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

As a lifelong SMA patient, the sheer number of people on my healthcare team rivals the size of my immediate and extended family combined. Keep in mind that I ... Read more

August 21, 2018August 17, 2018

How Theater Helped Shape Me

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

Given how much I loved movies, playing make-believe, and any kind of storytelling, it’s no surprise that I had a desire to get on stage early on. Before my ... Read more

August 14, 2018August 13, 2018

SMA Awareness Month: Why Having SMA Is Both a Curse and a Blessing

Columns, Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer

In the closing scene of the 2002 “Spider-Man” movie starring Tobey Maguire, a solemn Peter Parker leaves the funeral of Norman Osborn with a spirit of both determination and ... Read more