Ella and Her Brother Learn a Lesson
The world is holding its collective breath as COVID-19 makes its way across the globe. My daughter Ella has SMA. Her respiratory system is particularly fragile and compromised due to her disease. A simple…
Five Servings of Strength
— Michael Casten
Michael is married and a father of three, one being a child with SMA Type II (born in June, 2011). He is an educator who has worked directly with children and their families since 1994. He loves his family, writing, working with his hands, and taking road trips. Michael holds a bachelor’s in psychology (1994) and a master’s in education (2001).
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Ella Has Fun While Sheltering at Home
Ella, 10, the youngest of our three children, is thriving. She has friends from school, in the neighborhood, and online. She sings in a community choir, and occasionally plays with her siblings. Due to Ella’s disease,…
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Ella Can Play Basketball by Herself
Warm weather in Chicagoland is slowly but surely creeping in. Temperatures on some days allow kids sporting short-sleeved shirts to play outside. Ella’s older brother, Henry, recently took advantage of a warm Saturday afternoon. He…
Ella Has Her Hair Tips Colored Purple
At 9 years old, Ella is at the age in which she has become more concerned with her looks. And by the way, she has a crush on a boy at school! When her brother,…
Ella Can Be Wise Beyond Her Years
Ella is 9 years old. She has a debilitating disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Her life is difficult at times, and she needs assistance with everyday tasks. She does as much as she can by herself,…
Ella Shows Bravery After an Accident in Her Wheelchair
Ever since Ella’s mom, Lindsay, had an amputation of her lower right leg, I have been in charge of the household. Months later, Lindsay had her left knee replaced. My household duties continued,…
After Loss, Life Goes on for the Castens
Life has settled down in the Casten household. We are still mourning the loss of Potter, one of our dogs. Needless to say, we are showering our other dog, Ginny, with affection. Ginny misses her big…
Ella and Our Family Say Goodbye to Our Dog
Our family loves animals. Ella has two baskets full of stuffed animals and she continues to get more. Three and a half years ago, our vizsla, Sasa, died of old age. A month before…
Ella Expresses Herself and Gains Confidence
Ella spends a lot of time in the breakfast room just off the kitchen. She does her homework at the table, where there are pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, and paper. She plays with her iPad, talks with…
Ella’s Mom Goes to the Hospital
Ella’s mom, Lindsay, had a complete knee replacement on Jan. 8. She stayed in the hospital for two days before being discharged. We set her up in a pullout bed in the family room while she recovered.
Ella Works Through Life’s Frustrations
The house is full of wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. Soon to be added will be a cane. Ella’s mom, Lindsay, had a total left knee replacement. The knee replacement was necessary because she had compensated for her…
Ella Finds Her Niche as She Performs at Her First Concert
The seats in the high school auditorium filled quickly before Ella’s first concert with the Young Naperville Singers (YNS) began. We had spent the morning getting ready for the concert. Showers were taken and…
Ella and Daddy Have a Saturday Morning Date
This week was my daughter Ella’s turn to have a date with me. My wife, Lindsay, and I try to spend one-on-one time with each of our three kids on a rotating basis. It fosters relationships…
