Columns

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 properly. Although I’m homeschooled, which reduces the hours I spend learning, it still takes up valuable time and energy.

Second in a series. Read the first here. It’s no mystery that romantic relationships take effort. They’re not always full of sunshine and flowers. They require good communication, patience, trust, and understanding. That’s not easy even for the regular able-bodied couple. If you or your partner…

Part one of a series. Last summer, I was looking through some Bionews Services articles when I came across one about online dating. The young woman who wrote the article talked about how she never felt like she fit in at school and because of that, she hadn’t…

Just eight years ago, a four-hour trip to Disneyland would barely touch me. I’d go on a few rides, have a bite to eat, come home, take a nap, and be ready for school the next day. These days, even having my friends over at my house…

Everyone suffers from insecurity every once in a while. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman, a child or a teenager. Nor if you’re disabled or able-bodied. But when your body starts to fail you, that can sometimes escalate those occasional feelings of self-consciousness. Before…

Whether you or your loved one has a chronic illness, it’s important to prepare for hospital stays. Despite my many visits to the emergency room, I’ve only had to stay in the hospital a few times. We keep a suitcase in the car full of essentials for an…

Every once in a while, I am asked, “Who are the most influential and inspirational people in your life?” I could name more than a handful of people, but the truth is, no one in my life has shaped who I am more than my mom and dad.

Chronic illness can dramatically alter life perspective. If there’s anything I’ve learned from having mitochondrial myopathy, it’s gratitude for my surroundings. I guess I’ve developed a kind of mindfulness from days spent inside my house trying to regain energy. If I’ve drained too much energy, it can take…

A lot of people think that asking for help is a piece of cake. A walk in the park. But I’ve learned, not only from experience but also from watching other people, that it’s not always that simple. Even now, after living with mitochondrial myopathy for 14…

Renovating your home for wheelchair accessibility can seem like a daunting task. You would not be wrong. It is an overwhelming project and some people don’t know where to start. The cost can also be intimidating, too. It may not be affordable when you’re constantly paying your medical…