The Wolf Finally Frees Itself – a column by Brianna Albers

Brianna (she/her) is a crip cyborg storyteller living in Minneapolis-St. Paul. She was diagnosed with SMA Type II at 9 months of age and lives with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions. By day, she works as an advocate, bridging disability and mental health awareness to empower people to live their best lives; by night, she dabbles in imagination, and is in the process of making the book of her heart, “#WaningCrescent,” the best it can be. Find her online at www.briannahopealbers.com and on social media @briehalbers.

May 3, 2021April 28, 2021

Climbing Out of That Which Resembles the Grave, but Isn’t

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure what to write about. To the point where I briefly considered skipping this week’s column. I try not to, because I’m an overachiever who ... Read more

April 26, 2021April 22, 2021

Pride Cometh Before the Side Effects

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

It’s not that I didn’t think I’d have side effects. I hoped. Just like I hoped that COVID-19 would wind down by late last summer; just like I hoped “The ... Read more

April 19, 2021April 15, 2021

The Green-eyed Elephant in the Room

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

Let’s talk about the green-eyed elephant in the room. I’m a naturally jealous person. The therapist in me is convinced that my childhood has something to do with it — ... Read more

April 12, 2021April 7, 2021

As SMA Treatments Advance, History Has Its Eyes on Us

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

I’ve dreamed of cures. Miracles that occur in the blink of an eye. One minute, I’m sitting in my wheelchair, and the next, I’m standing, walking, running. I’m wobbly on ... Read more

April 5, 2021April 1, 2021

The Evrysdi Chronicles: Full Speed Ahead

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

According to my mother, my columns are the first result when you Google “Evrysdi (risdiplam) denial.” Which isn’t surprising. I’ve written several scathing columns about the application process, from verifying ... Read more

March 29, 2021March 25, 2021

3 Melatonin Pills a Night Keep the Hallucinations at Bay

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

I see things that aren’t there. The writer in me realizes that, at first blush, this sounds like the opening line of a young adult novel. Take, for example, Maggie ... Read more

March 22, 2021March 17, 2021

Unlike Hamilton, I Threw Away My Shot

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

My first instinct was to scream. After weeks of waiting, and days of researching clinics and time slots, I finally received the prized text message: “Brianna and 2 caregivers have ... Read more

March 15, 2021March 10, 2021

As Spring Arrives, I’m Reflecting on a Year of Quarantine

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

Time has no meaning anymore. I barely know what day it is. I’m safe in my self-contained bubble of cat cuddles and electric blankets. I rarely ever leave the house. ... Read more

March 8, 2021March 3, 2021

As Someone With SMA, the Fight for My Life Never Ends

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

It’s become a sort of ritual. Once every few weeks around 3 p.m., my mom will drop by my room. “So,” she’ll say, with ridiculous amounts of forced brightness. “So.” ... Read more

March 1, 2021February 25, 2021

My SMA Friends Remind Me That It’s OK to Rest

Columns, The Wolf Finally Frees Itself - a column by Brianna Albers

You already know that for the longest time, I didn’t want friends with SMA. I was young and desperate to be seen as “cool” (whatever that means), but more than ... Read more

Subscribe to our mailing list