Because of SMA, I have met people that I might never have crossed paths with otherwise. I’m blessed with the opportunity to connect with nurses, physicians, equipment providers, and other SMA families. I love all of these unique connections, but I especially cherish my relationship with my best friend, Kim.
From Where I Sit
— Halsey Blocher
Halsey Blocher is a young woman who was diagnosed with SMA Type 1 in 1999 after a blood test revealed a deletion of the survival motor neuron gene. She now lives with her loving family in Fort Wayne, IN and spends her free time reading, cooking, creating, and enjoying life’s blessings. Halsey is passionate about her work as a Columns Manager at Bionews Inc. as well as volunteering with various local organizations. Writing is her lifelong dream, so she uses this gift to advocate and offer glimpses into everyday life with SMA in the hope that it will inspire readers to seek the positive in every situation
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A smiling stranger was quickly approaching us in the line to order our food, and she looked intent on talking to me. I didn’t recognize her. Had I forgotten who she was? I shouldn’t have worried. We didn’t know each other, and what followed was the normal, cringeworthy kind of…
Congratulations! You have completed another rotation around the sun. Now that the holiday celebrations are over and we have resumed our normal daily schedules, let us turn our attention toward a common practice at this time of year: New Year’s resolutions. Many people choose to start a new year by…
It’s not a secret that I’m not a big fan of winter weather. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like a few things about this time of year. Specifically, I love the winter holidays! Christmas has always been my favorite. I love watching my favorite Christmas…
My parents and I recently attended a National Philanthropy Day breakfast with a group of staff from Turnstone, our local center for people with disabilities and their families. I’ve been a client at Turnstone since I was 3 years old, and I have started volunteering there in the…
I’m staying indoors more and more on Halloween. The cold is taking an increasingly large toll on my body. I roll through the neighborhood with the younger members of my family when the weather is unseasonably warm, but that doesn’t often happen in northern Indiana. Instead, I’ve started passing…
Summer has drawn to a close, and Mother Nature has begun painting the trees in beautiful fall colors. As fall arrives, the temperatures also begin to change. Unfortunately, cooler weather tends to be hard on my body, and it takes a while for me to adjust. As temperatures…
In January 2011, I had a period of illness that sparked an emergency tracheostomy surgery. It also marked the time that home nursing care was unexpectedly thrust into my family’s lives. In the years since then, my nurses have become an important part of our household.
As my 22nd birthday rapidly approaches, I almost can’t comprehend it. The thought of my birthday has seemed surreal for the past several days. To most people, turning 22 probably isn’t that big of a deal. You don’t get to do anything new. Your friends start to tease you about…
Have you ever seen a person with a wheelchair rolling toward you and wondered how you should react? You’re likely not the only one. Here are a few pointers for the next time you find yourself in this situation: Make eye contact You don’t need to stare, but…
Being sick tends to take a lot out of people with SMA, and the healing process is often slow. A few days after returning from a family vacation this year, I started to feel ill. My heart rate was quickly rising and I had a slight…
For our summer vacation, my family and I decided to take a trip to Ontario, Canada, to see Niagara Falls. Most of us had never been, and I had never traveled out of the United States. We walked by the falls, took a trip to the top of the…
Like many people, I love to cook. One of my favorite activities at Turnstone’s Adult Day Services program is the monthly cooking class, where I have learned to make all sorts of tasty dishes ranging from homemade peanut butter cups to grilled honey mustard chicken. I’ve also spent many…
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