A Surprising Start to 2019
Professional writing has always been a bit of a dream job. As a college freshman, I realized that my idea of writing didn’t exactly coincide with academic writing, which had…
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
Adding a nasal irrigator to my list of rare disease gadgets
It was another appointment in an appointment-packed January. My hopes weren’t particularly high, but no one will ever accuse me of being a less-than-perfect patient, so I braved the cold bite of the new…
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The Year of the Philosopher King
Just like every year, I spent the last few days of 2018 and the first few days of 2019 reflecting on life; specifically, what my life has looked like until…
Balancing Brain and Body
It’s only 5:30 p.m., but it feels later, probably because I’m writing this in the back of my family’s van, the pitch black of Minnesota’s winter broken by car headlights…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Holidays are a point of contention for many people. Most of us spend the month of December attending holiday parties and family get-togethers, watching television commercials, and humming along to…
From My Family to Yours
A few days ago, my parents and I were reminiscing around our dining table. I’m not sure how we got onto the topic of ambulances and hospital visits. Maybe I…
Finding Gratitude in the Waves
A few weeks ago, I attended one of the National Institute of Mental Health state conferences to fulfill a class requirement. It was an all-day affair, with tote bags…
Adventures with Anaphylaxis
Every time I think I’ve run out of things to write about, life throws me a curveball. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been getting allergy…
Dating, Sex, and Practicing Vulnerability
There comes a point in every SMA patient’s life when someone asks, “Why are you in a wheelchair?” I like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at answering that question.
Online Dating, Round 2: Here We Go Again
There are, in my experience, two kinds of depressive episodes. The first leaves one lifeless and frowning. When I’m that kind of depressed, I watch “Critical Role“…
Massages Keep Me Grounded in My Body
I’ve done some arguably ridiculous things over the past two decades in the name of health. I’ve had metal rods surgically implanted in my back to keep my spine from…
Poetry Readings and Wonder Woman
I’ve quoted my favorite poet, Ada Limón, several times throughout the history of this column. Her poems “The Leash” and…
Autumn Monotony Turned Romanticization
“For the most part, my solutions to human problems have been simple ones—get more rest, do good work, take things a day at a time, and find some people to…
