Motherhood Isn’t Right for Every Woman With SMA, and That’s OK
As a young teenager, I went with my mom to a workshop at a Cure SMA conference about living with SMA as a woman. A room full of young ladies and…
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 Column Lead 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
Featured Post
The gifts a movie legend left me
While you might recognize Val Kilmer from iconic films like “Top Gun” or “Batman Forever,” the first of his movies I saw was probably one of my mom’s favorites, “The…
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Prioritizing Accessibility in Public Spaces Is Better for Everyone
When I say “inaccessibility,” what’s the first thing you think of? You might envision something like a set of stairs, a broken elevator, or a car that’s been carelessly parked in front of…
SMA Awareness Shows the World How to Live Positively: Halsey’s Take
If you’re a regular reader of my column, you might have noticed that it usually ends with a positive spin. Once, I even wrote about being thankful for things that don’t seem…
Cleaning Up After SMA’s Messes Is a Dirty Job
With that headline, I’d expect this column to belong to my friend and SMA News Today colleague Kevin Schaefer. After all, he’s not shy about sharing less than pleasant aspects of…
Balancing Hope for the Future With a Focus on Today
It’s not uncommon to plan for the future. Most of us have at least an idea of what we’d like our lives to look like five, 10, or 20 years from now. Some people…
Despite Swallowing Issues, I Take Sips of Gratitude With Smoothies
On a hot summer day, you will usually find yourself needing a cool drink to quench your thirst sooner or later. You might choose a cold glass of water, lemonade, soda, or iced tea.
What a Community Can Accomplish When We Come Together
Back in November, the latest e-newsletter from We Carry Kevan (WCK) landed in my inbox, and this one included an intriguing request. They were looking for volunteers to serve as ambassadors who…
Loss Is Painful, but the Gift of Friendship Is Worth It
I’m fairly frequently asked what the hardest part of living with SMA is, but no matter how many times I hear the question, I seldom know how to answer it. Each day brings…
How Someone Handles My Hands Makes a Difference
My mom and I enjoy treating ourselves to a relaxing afternoon of mother-daughter bonding at the nail salon from time to time. We don’t have one specific salon that we always go to. While…
Within 3 Years, This Column Has Grown and Changed
Somehow, it’s already been three years since I began sharing my story with you in this column. It’s been a beautiful, heartfelt adventure that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But I have to admit…
Why Organ Donation Is Important to Me: The Stories of Brad and Jack
After moving into our new home a few months ago, members of our family made a trip to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to update our IDs with our new…
I’m Hopeful We Won’t Forget What Connected Us During the Pandemic
It’s been about two years since I got a message from a friend saying that she would miss seeing me at Turnstone, the local disability center. Earlier that day, an announcement had been made…
