My Love-Hate Relationship with the Holidays
I’d imagine if anyone who knows me were to describe me in one sentence, it would go something like this: “Oh, Alyssa? She’s that writer girl who runs a nonprofit organization for…
Life, One Cup at a Time
— Alyssa Silva
Alyssa Silva is a writer based out of Providence, Rhode Island. She was diagnosed with SMA type 1 in 1991 when she was just 5 months old. Aside from writing, Alyssa is the chief creative officer for an intimates brand and runs a small business selling her artwork. In her free time, you can find her canceling plans to hang out with her golden retrievers, watching reruns of “The Office,” and convincing others why Taylor Swift is the greatest of all time.
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Finding gratitude, even amid the toughest battles of life with SMA
Living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) often means facing many hardships and uncertainties. With physical limitations, emotional hurdles, and complex medical issues, SMA is constantly shaping and shifting my life. Though these are…
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On Being at the Mercy of Others
I almost accidentally drank chunky coffee the other day. How’s that for the introduction of all introductions? I thought about easing you into it slowly in an attempt to avoid making your…
What My Vertigo Taught Me to Reconsider
I came up with the idea for this column at 5:45 a.m., when I’m usually just falling into a deep REM cycle. (Sleeping has never come easily for me.) I wish…
The Evolution of My Ability to Write
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from readers, friends, and even family members, is how I physically write my columns. The evolution of my ability to write has changed drastically…
What My Little Nephew Has Taught Me About Love
In May 2017, I became an auntie to a beautiful little boy named Lincoln Anthony. I’ll never forget the day we heard the news. It was a sunny Saturday morning in early…
Why Getting Lost Can Be Beautiful
I had a friend in college who was very much a free spirit. He always went with the flow, never sweated the hard stuff, and was the kind of person who was…
Why I Share My Story
Can I be totally real with you for a second? Putting yourself out there into the world is no easy task. Being honest, sharing your truth, and inviting cyberspace into your own…
It’s Time for More Understanding
I think I can speak for the majority of the disability community when I say that we all crave a little more empathy and understanding from others. While I don’t expect a…
Creating a Silver Lining to Every Story
Last week, I wrote about the harsh reality that sometimes is SMA. I retold the story of my attempt to drive through the mountains of New Hampshire and how after…
SMA May Win Some Battles, but It’ll Never Win the War
Crying at a random gas station in rural New Hampshire was on my long list of things I thought I’d never do. Yet, there I was, two hours away from home, coming…
What the School System Taught Me About Advocacy
Between back-to-school commercials, first-day-of-school posts, and college-move-in-day pictures, this time of year always has me reminiscing about my days as a student. Although I am no longer shopping for notebooks and binders…
When Times Are Tough, at the Very Least, Say Something
For a good chunk of last year, I dreaded when people asked how I was doing. To an extent, I understood their logic. They were genuinely curious about my well-being, and…
