Working Through the Process — Robin Stemple

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…

In my previous column, I shared my concern about losing more strength due to the progression of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). This loss was making it increasingly difficult for me to get out of my friend Richard’s Subaru. Richard, who is also a musician, not only drives…

In the book “Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection,” authors Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie write, “Blessed are you who are buried. You who feel stuck in the depths of grief and despair or who sit in the pit of unknowing.” Since reading this devotional,…

Advent is the beginning of the church year for Christians. What better way to start the year than with a season of hope? During Advent, Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus, whom we believe is the incarnation of God. He entered our world, becoming human, when he was born…

It’s a wintery Monday morning as I write this. My wife, Wendy, left a while ago for an all-day outing with her knitting group. My daughter Jill, who lives with us, is working downtown today. It’s just as well. They say misery loves company, but I’m better off being by…

I’m a member of the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the FSHD Society, which serves as a support group and a partner in the nationwide Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD campaign aimed at raising funds for the search for a cure for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The Walk…

I have a growing list of limitations, as a result of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), my blindness, and other injuries from a long-ago head-on collision with a drunk driver. My wife, Wendy, and my daughter Jill, who are my primary caregivers, provide essential help every day: preparing meals,…

In the past couple months, I’ve had more medical challenges than usual. My right arm hasn’t been working well, leading to some additional struggles with activities of daily living. In June, what I thought was a bug bite appeared on the knuckle of my right middle finger. It would swell…

My daughter Jill and my wife, Wendy, are my primary caregivers. In August, Jill and Wendy traveled to Iceland together. The day before their departure, we had a “bon voyage” family picnic. It was a lovely gathering, but I ended up with a couple of bug bites on my left…

My facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) causes a variety of symptoms that affect every aspect of my life. Sitting up in bed is a challenge. Getting dressed is tiring. Standing up has become a laborious process. I’ve had to adapt the way I brush my teeth. Eating is a…

I’ve been on my own for the past 10 days while my wife, Wendy, and daughter Jill have been vacationing in Iceland. It’s been challenging. A couple years ago, when Wendy and Jill traveled to Croatia, Greece, and Slovenia, I wrote a column titled “Good to know that I…