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…
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.
Featured Post
What I hope you’ll understand this SMA Awareness Month
“Don’t worry, we all got the Alyssa lesson before we started working here,” the new fellow joked after having completed his second nasojejunal (NJ) feeding tube exchange on me. Though everyone in the room…
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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…
The Power of Social Media in the SMA Community
Over the past weekend, pictures from the annual candle lighting for SMA that took place on Aug. 11 inundated my social media feeds. As most of our community knows, this lighting represents…
Why I Wouldn’t Change a Thing During Fundraising Season
It seems like just yesterday I was living in a perpetual state of chaos. My life was going a million and one miles per hour, and there was no stoplight in sight.
After Hard Lessons Come New Beginnings
The past four weeks have taught me some hard lessons, which came as no surprise. I’m the type of person who constantly searches for meaning and purpose during every peak and valley…
