My Wheelchair Is Dead. Now What?
My wheelchair has been my ultimate sidekick since I was a curly-headed toddler, and just like any other great sidekick, I rely on it for pretty much every aspect of life. Without my…
Life, One Cup at a Time
— Alyssa Silva
Diagnosed at 5 months of age, Alyssa has set out to raise awareness about life with SMA Type I through writing. By getting personal and being open about her trials and triumphs, she wants the world to know that SMA can put up a good fight, but we can always fight back exceedingly harder. Aside from writing, Alyssa is the community director for an adaptive fashion brand and has founded her own nonprofit called Working On Walking. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops within a 50-mile radius of her hometown in Rhode Island.
Featured Post
How the Formula Shortage Has Affected Me as Someone With SMA
Whether it has directly affected you or not, chances are you’ve heard about the formula shortage happening in the United States right now. It’s a serious issue, one that has people rationing what they have and…
Read more
Promise You Won’t Quit, OK?
As much as I don’t like to admit it, sometimes life can be brutally unfair. I’m even hesitant to type these words because it seems as though everyone is always so focused on…
Life Before and After Spinraza, Part 2
Second in a series. Read Part 1 here. There’s a certain significance that Dec. 4 holds in my life. What started as an ordinary day morphed into the day that forever changed…
Life Before and After Spinraza, Part 1
If I asked you right now to tell me what your life’s defining moments were, what would you choose? Would it be something that left you feeling content and hopeful? Or would it…
When Life Gave Me Lemons
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” We’ve all heard this saying. It has been repeated and engraved into our brains. It teaches us to take the bitterness of life and learn to…
When Hospital Roles Are Reversed
“All right, Alyssa, let’s see how quickly we can do this,” I shouted to my assistant, who conveniently shares my name. I had exactly one hour to get flowers at the local supermarket…
What You Can Learn Living in the Eye of the Storm
Did you know that when buffalo sense a storm coming, they run into it? I recently took a writing course, and the instructor shared this fascinating tidbit with us all. Most animals and humans alike seek shelter when we…
Why You Should Embrace Your Struggles
In promising to be as open and honest with you at all times, I must preface this column by telling you I find myself in a season of struggle right now. Life as I know it is messy. It’s…
The Pros and Cons of Traveling in a Wheelchair
I don’t know about you, but this time of the year always has me daydreaming of some sort of tropical getaway complete with life-changing excursions and the ability to immerse oneself in new cultures and traditions. At heart, I’m…
Hello, Join Me: Introducing ‘Life, One Cup at a Time’
Let’s imagine you and I are enjoying a delicious cup of coffee right now. Around us are people engrossed in their laptops, slugging down every ounce of caffeine, just to survive the workday. Old friends, new friends, and best…
Your SMA Community
Visit the SMA News Today forums to connect with others in the SMA community.
