Expressing Our Negative Emotions to Find Positive Ones
I always hope to impart a positive message to my readers and exude joy in life whenever possible, but I also know it’s OK to be upset, even angry, at times. I have to face the peaks…
Hawk’s-Eye View — Hawken Miller
Hawken is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California and a young journalist with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He has previously worked for the Washington Post, Sacramento Bee, KTLA 5 News and at USC Annenberg Media. When not writing columns, he’s reporting on rare disease-related news for the publisher of this website, BioNews.
Featured Post
So Long for Now: The Hawk Flies On to New Horizons
It’s hard to believe: This is the 100th column I’ve written for Muscular Dystrophy News Today. It will also be my last for the near future. “Hawk’s-Eye View” has been a part of me for the past…
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How I’m Getting Out of My 2020 Funk
If 2020 hasn’t been a challenging year for you, that’s great news. But for me, like many others, this year has been a lesson in overcoming adversity, whether it’s due to sheltering in place from…
What I Learned About Life From My Dog
On Sept. 29, part of my life was lost. My dog, Gus, who had been a staple of the Miller family household for 13 years, left the world. To where, we can only guess, but he left parts…
Removing Barriers to Employment for People With Disabilities
As a journalist and person with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I have a dual purpose. I want to inform people and hold those in power accountable. I also want to show that having a disability doesn’t detract…
The Value of Having Friends With the Same Disease
Over the last couple of years, I’ve had opportunities to meet and befriend more adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Whether we’ve found one another through CureDuchenne events…
Overcoming the Idea of Being a Burden
As I’ve started relying more on people for things I used to do on my own, it’s become easier to ask for help without feeling like a burden. This toxic thought has been a challenging mental hurdle,…
Why It’s Important to Be Still Amid the World’s Chaos
The world can be overwhelming thanks to the deadly coronavirus pandemic, especially for someone dealing with muscular dystrophy. On top of the daily struggles — lack of mobility, physical exhaustion, and steroid-related side effects — there’s…
Losing My Ability to Walk Won’t Stop Me
When I was younger, I couldn’t imagine losing my ability to get up from the ground, run, or play soccer. Now I can’t imagine losing my ability to walk. At 23, I’m still able to…
A Good Sense of Humor Makes My Duchenne Diagnosis Easier
I like to think I’m pretty funny, at least that is until I work up the courage to say something in a conversation. A lot of my humor has to do with my disability. Making a few…
Don’t Feel Bad About Calling Me ‘Inspiring’
In the disabled community, many people discuss the negative implications of being called “inspiring.” Some have said it’s objectifying, reduces our humanness, or congratulates us just for being disabled. I agree with many of those…
Creativity Allows Me to Surpass Any Physical Limits
For a long time, I didn’t think journalism was a creative endeavor. I viewed the craft from an analytical perspective. After all, I was just recounting my firsthand experience publishing interviews and translating research. It wasn’t until…
Duchenne Has Forced Me to Reflect on My Own Mortality
My parents tried to shield me as long as they could from data that revealed the average life expectancy of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Once I grew older and more curious,…
