columns

September 18, 2018September 17, 2018

A Girl’s Best Friend: Thoughts on Mobility Assistance Dogs

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

One of the best days of my life was when my family and I brought home my dog, Andre. The second my eyes fell on him, I melted into ... Read more

September 11, 2018September 7, 2018

Listening and Surrendering to My Body Isn’t Always Easy

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

Being a healthy able-bodied human being must be nice. Not having to worry about taking medications or planning out your day based on your energy levels. Not having to ... Read more

September 4, 2018August 30, 2018

Finding Doctors Who Understand Your Disease

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

In life, there are good and bad versions of everything. When it comes to doctors, some get lost in their egos or refrain from showing emotion in patient relations. ... Read more

August 14, 2018August 13, 2018

Seeing Both Sides of the Plastic Straw Controversy

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

A few years ago, if you had asked me what it means to be eco-friendly, I would have given you the average answer: “Turning off your lights when you’re ... Read more

August 7, 2018August 3, 2018

How Lyrica Has Affected My Relationship with Food

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

All my life, I’ve been very lucky not to be burdened with food and eating problems. For a brief period as a young teen, I watched what I ate ... Read more

July 24, 2018July 20, 2018

Why I Identify with Being Chronically Ill, Not Disabled

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

Every now and then, when I see my reflection in a window or mirror, I’m surprised. Most of the time, I forget that I need a wheelchair to get ... Read more

July 17, 2018July 13, 2018

Treat Your Mental Health Before It Becomes Too Much to Bear

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

Today, in 2018, the topic of mental health seems to be discussed more frequently than ever before. This is a great thing, however, understanding the signs and symptoms may ... Read more

July 3, 2018June 29, 2018

Managing Body Temperature with Heat Intolerance

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

As you all know, summer is upon us, and that means trying our best to stay cool. Here in Southern California, the June gloom is almost gone and that ... Read more

June 26, 2018June 22, 2018

Interacting with Kids Who’ve Never Been Around a Wheelchair

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

People can be downright rude when it comes to being around someone who’s different to them. You don’t really have to be in a wheelchair to know that. I ... Read more

June 19, 2018June 18, 2018

Planning My Summer with Both Fun and Reality in Mind

columns, You, Me and MD - a Column by Leah Leilani

As you may know if you’ve read my columns before, my form of muscular dystrophy is called mitochondrial myopathy. It renders my body unable to produce enough energy to function ... Read more