Columns

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 around. Even in my dreams at night, I am as active as any able-bodied person. Of course, in…

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 still be a struggle for most people. Today, I’ll share my battles with mental illness and my thoughts surrounding…

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 familiar, nostalgic feeling of summer has finally come. Pretty soon, everyone will be blasting their air conditioning and licking…

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 learned a long time ago that adults are usually more judgmental that children. Kids are more curious. Of course,…

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…