I’ve been through a lot with SMA. I thought I had experienced everything, but on March 20, I was proven wrong. It was a frightening shock. That morning, my nurse was dressing me while I was in bed, as usual. My mom also happened to be in…
Soaring With Hope – a Column by Ari Anderson
At the beginning of the year, I felt a sense of calm because I finally had enough nurses to complete my home nursing staff. There was no pressure to find a replacement for a nurse leaving my case. That kind of calm is priceless in my life with SMA.
One of my rules is that nurses cannot care for me when they’re sick. Although this creates challenges, I don’t want to risk exposure. Because I live with SMA, the repercussions of a virus or other cause of illness on my health would be severe. Another thing that creates…
If you’ve read at least a few of my columns, you know that I hold on tightly to hope. It’s what keeps me plowing through the rough terrain of problems and crises, as my faith tells me that, one day, many of these difficulties will be solved. Now, it seems…
It’s been almost a year since I moved into my new house, and I’m still working to get everything the way I want and need it. I’ve always loved warm temperatures. As long as I stay hydrated, the warmth has a special way of soothing my soul. This is…
Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays that make me grateful. I am thankful for the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, and how he not only brought me through all the events of this year in one piece, but also made me triumphant in many areas. One of my favorite…
Every morning, after relieving the night nurse, my mom walks toward my bed. “Snookums!” she lovingly calls out when she sees that my eyes are open. It’s a nickname that comes straight from her heart. Everything my mom does for me, which is a lot, comes from that same place.
It’s incredible how seemingly small changes can lead to something that turns out to be much bigger. Let’s explore this idea through my experience with SMA. In February, I moved into a new house, where we converted the garage into my bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and medical supply room.
In my previous column, I discussed how nurses are recruited and hired by a home health agency, as well as the interview and training processes necessary to work on my case. In this column, I’d like to explore what it takes for a nurse to remain in this role,…
Of the 43 years that I’ve been on my SMA journey, home health nurses have accompanied me for 39 years. I know a lot about home healthcare, particularly how registered nurses and licensed practical nurses work in one’s home. Unfortunately, not everyone is familiar with home health nursing and…
