It’s almost impossible for me to go places without silently analyzing the accessibility. I do it in my own city, but even more when we travel. After living with SMA for 29 years, it’s just natural to look around and quickly determine whether I can actually be a part…
Video Blogs
Here you will find our collection of vlogs created by people with SMA for SMA News Today. Each week, they share their personal stories and perspectives with the SMA community. Watch the latest videos below and follow us on YouTube for more.
SMA + Kidney Stones = A Recipe for Hospitalization
In this episode of the Morale Monologue, Michael discusses his recent battle with kidney stones. A few weeks ago, he was admitted to the hospital to have a kidney stone removed. He discusses the procedure and what doctors did to correct the problem. He also offers tips on what to do if you have a urinary tract infection.
Further reading
For people living with neuromuscular diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), listening to the body and recognizing fatigue and pain is only half the battle. The other half is communicating that information to their care team so they can help. “Pain is a subjective experience,” said Jenny Riecke,…
Identity-first language or person-first language? An individual’s choice to use one or the other is a reflection of them and the culture surrounding them. For example, I prefer identity-first language because I believe it’s important to remind society that its existing infrastructures can disable me more than my SMA.
John Muir once wrote, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” Every once in a while, that quote resonates in my heart. I am a Carolina girl who grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, along the rim of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I somehow…
A European survey of people living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has found that while treatment options have expanded since the first medicine was approved in 2017, patient journeys remain far from straightforward. Data from the 2025 European Patient Experience Survey on SMA Medicines, Access, and Treatment Journeys…
To say I didn’t attempt to set my complaint about a Sephora event up for success … would be a lie. If I was posting a video on TikTok, I obviously wanted people to see it. Time and effort are required to write a script, film, and edit,…
Managing a career, dating, and air travel for individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) comes down to three key tools: open communication, smart energy management, and proactive planning. These strategies were discussed during a recent webinar hosted by SMA News Today, where advocates living with the…
Another day, another trek to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. This time, though, it’s for something I’ve never done before: a cortisone injection in my right hip. For all I’ve written about chronic pain over the years, I don’t think I fully understood how debilitating it can be until just recently. It…
