29 and going on 19: A golden retrospective
Months ago, I had an idea for a column. I wrote it down with the intention of revisiting it around my golden birthday on June 29: “Diagnosed at nine months, given nine years to…
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
Why I hate (part of) the 21st Century Cures Act
Even with SMA, my checkups have, for the most part, become pretty routine. Every six months, I drive 30 minutes to my nearest specialty clinic. While there, I see various doctors, each with…
Read more
Sometimes big plans are canceled when you put your health first
I’d been anxious about our trip to Austin, Texas, for months. I look forward to the annual Cure SMA conference every year around June, but my excitement this time was tempered by a…
How undiagnosed food sensitivities led to my yeast overgrowth
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with naturopathy. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I started naturopathy over a…
While sometimes hard to admit, I’m still learning how to handle burnout
I was all ready to skip this week’s column, convinced I had nothing to say and no energy with which to say it, when I realized something. I’m burned out. It crept up on…
Why I’m rethinking my use of social media as a disability advocate
In the stillness of my room, a voice says to me, “You should quit social media.” It’s not the first time I’ve heard this voice. But it’s the first I’ve given it any sort…
Persistence is key when living with SMA
On a rainy day in April, I write the final words of my third novel: “The End.” If you follow me on social media, you’ll know this book has not been without its hiccups.
When growing older, surviving SMA is more than enough
I’m listening to my caregiver’s daughter talk about life as a first grader when I realize … I’m old. I don’t know when it happened. One minute, I was graduating high school, and…
How self-comparison can lead us down the wrong path in life
Every once in a while, I’m seized with unbearable jealousy. That’s not true. It isn’t jealousy so much as a sense of falling behind. Social media, while great for some things, is horrid…
I’m learning to recognize big ‘T’ trauma in my own life
Jokes are my coping mechanism of choice. If there’s tension in the room, you can bet I’m trying to come up with some way to lighten the mood. I pride myself on staying as…
How a clogged feeding tube brought me to the edge of death
Content warning: This column discusses medical trauma. Last in a series. Read part one here. I knew something was wrong when I started throwing up. After an eight-hour wait in an emergency room…
When a last-minute trip takes a turn for the worse
Content warning: This column discusses medical trauma. First in a series. Who really knows what time it is? 11? 12? 1? Time blurs when you’re on the precipice of something that will throw…
‘Into the Unknown’: Embracing the unexpected in life with SMA
When I chose my theme for 2024, I didn’t expect to take it for a spin before the year even started. Every December, I start thinking about a word or phrase that will guide…
