Working Through the Process
— Robin Stemple

Four years ago, my family enjoyed a week’s vacation at Bethany Beach, Delaware. There were many great moments that made this trip with my children and grandchildren memorable. There were also a couple of misadventures. We spent a day on Virginia’s Chincoteague Island, which is famous for its population of…

My regular readers know that I love to play music. I’ve been performing nearly my entire life. Music began for me when I was 5 years old. My dad taught my brother, Tim, and me to play guitar and banjo. These were the right instruments for Tim, who is an…

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and other health issues make it difficult for me to move these days. It’s hard to reposition myself when I’m sitting down. Standing to transfer now requires a seat that’s 22 inches or higher. It’s challenging to turn my feet to move from my wheelchair…

I stepped back onto the medical treadmill this year to determine if the pain in my right shoulder and elbow, as well as the weakness and stiffness in my right arm and hand, were the result of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). I was hoping it was something else, something…

My regular readers know I’ve been losing function in my right arm, making many activities of daily living challenging. The pain, weakness, and stiffness I experience when I try to do anything with that arm began suddenly and has progressed rapidly this year. I’m now experiencing similar symptoms in my…

I returned home this past Saturday from my first time in a respite care facility, where I’d been staying for nine days. The backstory is that my wife, Wendy, and daughter, Jill, who are my primary caregivers, love to travel together. In the past, I’ve been able to manage daily…

I’ve been forced to make lifestyle changes continuously because of the progression of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and other health issues. But I’ve regained some independence in the past few weeks after losing some capabilities over the past six months. I have a new sit-to-stand…

If you’ve read my last few columns, you’ll know that I’m struggling with a lot of new issues due to the progression of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, along with joint issues from a head-on collision with a drunk driver years ago, and just getting old. As I’ve grown…

If you read my last column, you’ll know that I’ve been experiencing extreme physical challenges in the last couple months. These changes are a result of a combination of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, damage from a major automobile accident many years ago, and simply growing old. This has…

During a recent facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) wellness group meeting via Zoom, a friend of mine shared a poem by May Sarton that prompted the question: “Do I think of my body as an old friend or as an enemy?” I realized that my attitude toward my body has…

On May 1, my daughter Jill graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a master’s degree in public policy and management. She also received the department’s student achievement award and was the student commencement speaker. Earning this degree took quite an effort, as she simultaneously worked full time as director…