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  • The SMA News Today Podcast Episode 10: Anna and Friederike Wittchen

    Posted by kevin-schaefer on June 22, 2018 at 9:00 am

    In the latest episode of the SMA News Today Podcast, I interview Anna and Friederike Wittchen, twin sisters from Berlin, Germany who both have SMA. Anna and Friederike are also medical professionals, and during this interview they provide extensive insight into their careers and the overall healthcare system in Germany.

    We recorded this interview during the 2018 Cure SMA Conference in Dallas, Texas. As such, a big part of our conversation focuses on Anna and Friederike’s travel experiences, and the advice they have for other adults with SMA. In addition to traveling for SMA conferences, the Wittchen sisters have ventured across Europe, to Kenya and all across the United States.

    We also talk about Anna and Friederike’s daily lives, how and when they were diagnosed and their experiences with Spinraza. Let me know what you all think in the comments, and if you have any questions for either Anna or Friederike.

    For more stories like this, be sure to subscribe to the SMA News Today Podcast. All episodes are available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Podbean and here on our website at http://www.smanewstoday.com.

    kevin-schaefer replied 5 years, 9 months ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • michael-morale

    Member
    June 26, 2018 at 8:31 am

    This was an excellent podcast. I had the pleasure of meeting these two sisters at the conference. I also met their two caregivers. Their attitudes and their spirit for life was something that I really enjoyed seeing in both of them.

    • kevin-schaefer

      Member
      June 26, 2018 at 9:34 am

      Thanks Michael. Yeah it was a pleasure talking with them. I told them that they should have been the ones leading the travel tips session.

  • adnan-hafizovic

    Member
    June 26, 2018 at 11:35 am

    I listen these interview from Anna and Friederike Wittchen.They are from Germany,and I must write about schooling in Germany one of the richest country.I have a friend, he move from Bosnia in German city Mainz,to schooling on Mainz university.And told me that university havent toilet for people with disability ,havent adequate entrance for people with disability.I was so dissapointed with all these,he went in Germany to have easier schooling,but he find same thing like in poor country like is Bosnia.

    • kevin-schaefer

      Member
      June 26, 2018 at 11:44 am

      It really was fascinating to hear Anna and Friederike talk about disability accommodations in Germany and the overall healthcare system there. I wish more countries had the same model.

    • deann-r

      Member
      June 26, 2018 at 6:52 pm

      Adnan, that’s one of the reasons I would be apprehensive to travel to other countries.  I would have no clue if they’d have appropriate accommodations.  Sometimes it’s difficult even here in the US.

  • deann-r

    Member
    June 26, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    Kudos to those two for everything they’ve accomplished.  What inspirations for everyone.  I loved the part where one of them got to the market, but had no way back so basically called for a police escort.  Now that’s problem solving at its finest.

    • kevin-schaefer

      Member
      June 27, 2018 at 10:10 am

      It really is. Hearing their stories was fascinating.

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