Henry Lets His Feelings Be Known
The title of this column is “Five Servings of Strength,” referring to the five members of our family. There’s me (Michael, the father), Lindsay (the mother), Ava (11), Henry (10), and Ella (8). We realized…
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 Helps Her Sister to Bake a Cake
Henry left the house in the evening to go to a friend’s house for a sleepover. As soon as her brother had departed, Ella began complaining that she never gets to do anything fun.
Ella Shares Her Hopes of Walking in the Future
Ella is beginning to look to her future. She realizes that all of the hard work she puts into her physical therapy sessions will help her in the long-run. She accepts that…
Ella’s Week of Pride as She Takes on New Challenges
Ella has had a full week. Her school held parent-teacher meetings over two days. At Ella’s school, the students lead the conferences. She made a slideshow to showcase her work and then practiced her presentation…
Ella’s Smooth Clinic Appointment
An early morning rain lent itself to the Chicago traffic. The highway was backed up for miles and we had an hour to get to Ella’s Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Our Family Photo Album Sparks Memories of SMA Challenges
It was time to take down the Christmas decorations. Every room was filled with boxes and coffee tables were covered with trinkets. We were working in the living room, which houses a large bookcase. We…
Pitching In When a Family Member Is Out of Commission
It takes a family to navigate SMA. All five of us play a role in helping the household run smoothly. Mostly, however, the final responsibility lies with the parents. Ava and Henry are…
Technology Has Improved Quality of Life for Those with SMA
Technology is a wonderful thing. It’s something that is a part of all of our lives and can have tremendous benefits. Ella has her own iPad and spends time playing games, looking…
Wrapping Up a Fantastic Winter Break with the Family
The kids had two weeks off from school for winter break. They spent time with family and each other, and Ella used her manual wheelchair a lot. The festivities started…
Ella’s Hunger for Reading and Writing
Reading boosts children’s abilities to convey ideas, thoughts, and stories. Ella’s teachers maintain that kids should read at least 20 minutes per day, even on weekends. Kids often find a book they…
Ella Is Enjoying the Christmas Season
The Christmas season is upon us. Like her mother, Ella has a special affinity for Christmas. We decorate the house right after Thanksgiving, plus send and receive greetings cards. We bring out festive clothing and…
Ella’s Friend Hosts a Dance Party
Ella received an invitation in the mail for a birthday party. The parents called earlier in the week asking us if a dance party would be something Ella could participate in. We told them that…
