Navigating contrasting emotions during medical procedures
“You just have to get through one more procedure,” I told myself as I pierced my tongue with my teeth while a needle stung my back. Slow and steady, I tried to take deep…
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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Rotating part of my medical team every year takes an emotional toll
As much as I try to shove this feeling aside, there’s a part of me that quietly dreads this time of year. Amid the beach days, hot weather, and all the other joys this…
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Why attending Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras’ concert was cathartic for me
Crying the moment I saw Taylor Swift on stage wasn’t something I expected to happen. But it wasn’t completely unexpected, either. I realize I’m contradicting myself here, but emotions will do that to a…
From the pride of graduating college to the anxiety of finding a job
Although I’m finding it hard to believe, this month marks 10 years since I graduated college. It feels like yesterday that I was excitedly driving across a stage to receive my diploma. With…
From stares to acceptance: The value of teaching kids how to be inclusive
“Why is she in a wheelchair?” is one of the most common phrases I hear when I’m out and about. Funnily enough, I’ve grown so accustomed to staying home these past few years that…
How I learned to prioritize my mental health from an early age
When I was a little girl, I had many life-threatening hospitalizations, the first at 16 months of age. Ten months after I was diagnosed with SMA, I experienced my first bout with…
My wheelchair is not a hindrance, but a gateway to the world
Whenever I think about how I started driving my wheelchair at 3 years old, I always wonder, “Whose great idea was that?” I accidentally crashed into furniture. I made plenty of dents in the…
A recent trip to the beach prompts me to reassess myself and my health
Some of life’s best lessons come from the beach. Don’t you agree? Maybe it’s because I’m a solar-powered soul, but the beach is my happy place. It’s where I go when I need to…
Combating 3 misconceptions about living with SMA
While living with SMA, I’ve been on the receiving end of many people’s misconceptions about the disease. To an extent, I understand their lack of awareness; there are many diseases and conditions that…
The isolating reality of navigating cold and flu season with SMA
There’s an old adage that says March comes in like a lion, but where I’m from, it comes in more like a tease. In New England, March is still cold and snowy, and it…
How a friend helped me find gratitude in an unexpected place
Something you may not know about me is that I have two homes. My first abode is a one-story home that was built to fit my needs almost 20 years ago. It’s in a…
New medical equipment reminds me of the harsh reality of SMA
“OK, SMA. You win,” I thought after signing off from a virtual meeting. I didn’t know how it was possible to feel so defeated yet relieved about finding a solution for one of…
3 productivity hacks I use while living with SMA
Among the many SMA symptoms I live with every day, fatigue has permanently staked out its territory at the top of the list. I am perpetually tired. There are days when my fatigue…
