Second in a series. Read part one. My mum likes to say that my home-care nurse is like a second mother to me, and I’d have to agree. Ever since my SMA care was transferred from a pediatric to a general hospital after I turned 18, my home-care…

The weather can affect those of us with SMA in ways that many people wouldn’t think of. For example, I wish I could just enjoy looking out of the window as the snow falls, with everything I need to wait out a winter storm. But in my reality, ice,…

As I reflect on 2024, I see that some great things have happened for me. I’m trying to figure out how to multiply those great things so they happen more often. This is one way I can gain an advantage while living with…

First in a series. As someone with SMA, I often think about the safety of my care. Many years ago, I told someone I’d been busy training a new nurse, and the person I was talking to responded, “Ari, you made me laugh out loud!” What was so…

So much of life is about gaining maturity through our experiences. Sometimes we go through events similar to ones we’ve experienced before, but we now understand them from a whole different perspective. A few months ago, I shared here that my back was to the wall. I need night care…

Thinking about parallel universes can be scary. Sometimes, though, it’s necessary to think about the scary what-ifs in order to be more aware of the positive things in life. More on this in a minute. For my friend and fellow columnist Halsey Blocher and me, looking at the bright side…

At first glance, my life may seem unusual. The more people get to know me, though, the more they’ll see that I share many of the same problems and emotions that most others have. Like everyone, I’ve experienced the death of loved ones. But I’ve also experienced loss in a…

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 there are some that we like better than others, we often pick one that’s in an…

As Christmas and the end of the year draw near, I’m reflecting on what 2021 has meant to me. If I look at the past year through a pessimistic lens, I could easily say, “Nothing has changed.” I’m still stuck at home because of the pandemic, and there’s still…

I enjoy writing for SMA News Today because it grants me a sense of freedom and independence. I basically have the ability to send out invitations for readers to visit the inner workings of my mind as someone with SMA. I have the freedom to select a column topic…