Hey! This sign says, ‘Disabled entitled to space!’
“Dear God, why did you not bless me with resting bitch face?” That was my prayer on May 23, 2025. I’d been up since 8 a.m. It was past 5 p.m., and I…
Wandering the Lines — Sherry Toh
Sherry “Elisa” Toh (she/they) is a journalist who lives in sunny Singapore. Her diagnosis of SMA type II was in 1999 at 13 months old. Kyphoscoliosis and chronic neuropathy later developed as complications. As a hopeless romantic, her loves include fairy tales, tea, and gaming — the last being the primary focus of her work. She has bylines in PCGamesN, NME, and more. In 2023, her essay “Virtual Progress: A Disabled Journalist’s Thoughts on the Video Games Industry” was published in Singapore’s first printed disability studies anthology, “Not Without Us: Perspective on Disabilities and Inclusion in Singapore.” She writes in hopes of offering community and catharsis. Find her @sherlisass on social media.
Featured Post
Advances in SMA treatment are like something out of science fiction
Did you know dogs can be diagnosed with SMA? I did. As a child, I used to stare up at a news clipping of research about the condition in canines, which was…
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Remembering that with my care, ‘I’m a national investment’
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” I used to hear my parents say. “Even if it’s free for you, someone else is paying for it.” From the moment I could comprehend the…
Questioning beauty standards in Oscar-nominated ‘The Substance’
Spoiler alert: This column discusses the plot of the 2024 film “The Substance.” Hollywood was abuzz about Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 film “The Substance” when it arrived on the scene. It was a…
Meet SMA News Today’s newest forum moderator!
At the time I applied to be a columnist for SMA News Today, I knew just one piece of career advice: what you do in your personal life matters — especially if you’re…
Finally, Singaporeans like me can access the SMA treatment Evrysdi
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Evrysdi (risdiplam). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I hadn’t meant to…
How am I coping with chronic pain? Let’s see …
Last in a series. Read parts one and two. I bought shoes I wasn’t sure I’d wear. That seems like a trivial statement, I know. Except the shoes cost 119 SGD ($89)…
A tribute to my dedicated nurses, who go above and beyond
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…
‘What can a pain specialist do for you, anyway?’
First in a series. “All right, I have to go. Bye, Sherry,” my then-new pain specialist said. “I hope I won’t see you for a few months.” That was a few days after he’d…
Why I’m seeking spinal fusion surgery at age 25, despite the risks
I’ll confess: When I wished for a spinal fusion in my teens, it was for cosmetic reasons. This was before kyphoscoliosis — an abnormal curvature of the spine both sideways and forward…
After more than a decade without one, I have a new power wheelchair
I’ve never understood why some people are weird about wheelchairs. Why the pity? Why think needing to use one is one of the worst things someone could face? I blame my first power wheelchair…
The importance of a knowledgeable medical team to an SMA patient
“Let me go, Mum,” I begged. It was Day 2 of a harrowing hospital stay. My chest had been hurting and feeling tight, nonstop. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I was tachycardic,…
