The Wolf Finally Frees Up Its Schedule
I was the kid with 50 different diaries. Usually pink with sparkles. Bonus points if they came with their own bejeweled pen, because what 9-year-old girl doesn’t like…
The Wolf Finally Frees Itself
— Brianna Albers
Brianna Albers (she/her) is a crip-cyborg storyteller living in Minneapolis-St. Paul. She was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 in 1996 and lives with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions. By day she works as an advocate, bridging disability and mental health awareness to empower people to live their best lives; by night, she dabbles in imagination, and is currently writing “An Angel in the Garden,” an adult space fantasy with #OwnVoices disability representation. Find her online at briannahopealbers.com and on social media @briehalbers.
Featured Post
How an airway collapse brought … relief?
Author’s note: I wrote most of this column on my phone while getting an atypical mole removed. If you wondered why I disappeared from social media, it’s because I’ve been busy crossing things off…
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Learning the Importance of the SMA Community
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this year’s Cure SMA Conference. I’d attended only once before, but I was too young to care about anything except for…
‘The Wolf Finally Frees Itself’: Revisiting the Title of My Column
Between the wheelchair, the pristine white Keds, and the pink baseball hat, I stand out. But I can’t say that I’m used to strangers stopping me in the middle of a reception…
It’s a Wonderful Life Even When Travel Plans Go Awry
“You don’t have to feel guilty,” my therapist told me. “Just try to enjoy yourself. You won’t make the trip better for anyone by feeling guilty.” I made the mistake…
Finding Serenity in the Eye of the Storm
If you’ve been keeping up with my column, you’ll know that my parents and I are essentially living in a no-fly zone (only our closest friends are…
Reining In My Illness Anxiety Is an Ongoing Effort
Before I knew what illness anxiety was, I made excuses for my ever-present fear of death by the common cold. “I was supposed to die at 9…
Learning Self-love from My PCA’s Daughter
When I first met Elena, my patient care assistant’s daughter, she was almost 2, with chubby cheeks and golden ringlets of hair. She was shy…
I Feel Gratitude in the Wake of Zolgensma
Everyone and their mother is talking about Zolgensma (AVXS-101). Just like what happened with the release of Spinraza (nusinersen), people everywhere are sharing links to news stories on the…
Despite a Chaotic Family Schedule, I Feel Gratitude in the Midst of Stress
It’s been, as they say, a day. My parents bought an airplane hangar and are transferring it to our vacation home in Wisconsin. My dad wants…
Living with SMA Sometimes Means Recognizing Your Own Brokenness
I write a lot about brokenness. I always have. It’s one of the themes of my work, not only as a writer — but also as a (future) mental health professional. Looking…
Off the Clock: Embracing My Abnormal Circadian Rhythms
I’ve always been a night owl. It’s a running joke in our family: My dad and I stay up until 11 p.m. or midnight, while my mom has a strict schedule comprising…
When Resilience Is the Norm
I have a reputation in my group of friends for not knowing any music. It’s gotten to the point where my friends have started making playlists of music that I missed out…
