Columns

My family and I have never been athletically inclined. Our talents lie in other areas. That being said, we’ve enjoyed watching the recent Winter Olympics together. As a blind person, I couldn’t see the skiers, skaters, sliders, riders, jumpers, and other athletes in action, but the commentators provided descriptions…

I hate muscular dystrophy. In my darker moments, I want to scream into the void of the universe — until I remember that I can’t scream anymore. In crowded spaces, others often can’t hear me, so I remain quiet. This goes against every fiber of my being; everyone who…

As a caregiver to three sons living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and a mother to four other children, I have learned a lot over the years. Today, I want to use that knowledge and experience to give back to the community. Being a part of the Duchenne community…

On Jan. 31, I visited the former Supreme Court Foyer at the National Gallery Singapore (NGS) for the final Artsplaining session of Light to Night Singapore 2026. NGS is a leading visual arts museum with the largest collection of Southeast Asian modern art. Artsplaining is its program designed…

I was born in March 1988 with the umbilical cord wrapped around my ankles three times. My heart rate dropped to zero, and the doctors had to do an emergency cesarean section to save me. I still reached all my milestones like a normal baby. When I was 6 years…

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. There have been lots of appointments and activities, and I’ve been busy running errands around town. I live in a rural community in south central Nebraska. It’s small enough that, no matter where I go, I run into someone I know. I also…

Pittsburgh, where I now live, receives far less annual snowfall than Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where my wife, Wendy, and I lived for 41 years. Shanksville, in Somerset County, sits squarely in the state’s snow belt. However, every so often, Pittsburgh experiences true winter weather, with bitter cold and significant snowfall. Just…

We all have bad days, but hopefully they are few and far between. Bad days can overwhelm, dampen your spirit, and leave you feeling angry, sad, or depressed. You may need to take a break from whatever has caused them. First, let me clarify that I am talking about bumps…

When the germs of cold and flu season find their way into the Vertin household, they crash our party of nine, and no one is spared. A cold or flu can be especially dangerous for my three sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) — Max, Rowen, and Charlie…

In my previous column, I shared my experience of stepping away from performing in my own play, “The Other Side,” and trusting that the work could continue without me at its center. This column picks up where the last left off: the moment the play met its audience, and…