Columns

In the spring of 1986, my doctor told my parents and me that one of the standard prescribed treatments for muscular dystrophy was splints, which I would wear on my legs to keep my heel cords loose and limber. The doctors wanted my ankles to reach a 90-degree bend,…

The week before school started was pure chaos. We had only been home from vacation long enough to unpack and start the laundry before we had to go to open houses on Monday at two of the kids’ schools,  and then close on our new house. If that…

Last year, our family’s wheelchair-accessible van broke down due to a fault in its hydraulic ramp. From March to May 2025, my caregiver and I had no choice but to take the bus to my office. It was the first time I’d used public transportation in a decade. Back then,…

My family recently spent a week in Indiana with friends at a cabin on a lake, and it was so good for us. Our two families met more than a decade ago when our sons were all little boys, and we have remained friends throughout our separate journeys with…

My regular readers know I’ve been losing function in my right arm, making many activities of daily living challenging. The pain, weakness, and stiffness I experience when I try to do anything with that arm began suddenly and has progressed rapidly this year. I’m now experiencing similar symptoms in my…

Shortly after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 1985, I returned to the hospital for a checkup and to review my treatment plan. I thought the doctors might tell me to eat an apple, take some aspirin, and rest up. I was 12 years old, so what did I…

The first thing I tell others about myself is that my husband and I share seven children: Lexi, 25; Max, 20; Chance, 19; Rowen, 17; Charlie, 15; Mary, 11; and Callie, 4. Being a mom is literally my favorite thing about myself. Caring for my family is my main purpose…

I returned home this past Saturday from my first time in a respite care facility, where I’d been staying for nine days. The backstory is that my wife, Wendy, and daughter, Jill, who are my primary caregivers, love to travel together. In the past, I’ve been able to manage daily…

In the last year, I have written about our family’s need for more space. Well, I have some exciting news to share. We are moving to a new house! It has been a process. We looked at houses for months. That might sound like we looked at a lot…

On July 3, I received some deeply personal news: “Lov-Able,” a short film starring my girlfriend, Amanda, and me, was selected for inclusion in AN/OTHER Film Festival in Fremantle, Australia. This disability-led event is presented by DADAA, an Australian arts organization that promotes access to culture for…