Working Through the Process — Robin Stemple

In a daily devotional I’m reading titled “Incurable Faith: 120 Devotions of Lasting Hope for Lingering Health Issues,” author Andrea Herzer describes pain as a thief, stealing her joy. Her words ring true for me as I navigate life with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and other health issues. Relentless…

I’m an early riser. As I mentioned in a past column, I like to wake up early, get dressed, make coffee, and start the day with some quiet prayer and devotion time. However, I’m also a very sound sleeper, with some help from melatonin, sleep medication, and a comfy…

I’m between two anniversaries. Today is the 36th anniversary of the collision I had with a drunk driver that cost me my eyesight and almost cost me my life. Saturday will be my 45th wedding anniversary. The car crash happened on the evening of June 11, 1989. I was returning…

During a recent facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) wellness group meeting via Zoom, we each shared how we were feeling about our disease journey. One participant said, “I feel like I’m always in transition.” I can relate to that. With FSHD, the need to adapt seems never-ending, a topic that…

If you’ve read any of my recent columns, you know that I’ve had a lot of health struggles of late. I’m back on the medical merry-go-round with physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical appointments, and tests that tie me up multiple days every week. I’m struggling to stand up from…

In a recent column, I talked about paring down my music rig and retiring my accordion. Over the years, I’ve transitioned from a 120-bass professional accordion to a 32-bass student model that, while less than 15 pounds, is now too heavy for me to handle. Because of my facioscapulohumeral…

I have friends and family who seem to be living on a medical merry-go-round. Every day they go to doctor’s appointments, have medical tests, or go through therapy. Their lives revolve around their healthcare. I haven’t been on this type of merry-go-round for a long time. I had a…

I was tempted to do a play on the show “America’s Got Talent” and title this column “FSHDers got talent,” but I knew the improper grammar wouldn’t get past my excellent editors. That being said, after participating in a recent FSHD Society wellness group session, I know that my fellow…

When I was 13 and my brother, Tim, was 16, we got skis for Christmas. I’m not sure why Mom and Dad decided to get them for us. Jeannette High School, my alma mater, had a ski club, but Tim and I weren’t members. I don’t recall asking for skis.

I’ve played music since I was 5 years old. My first professional playing job was as an accordionist in a Polish polka band when I was 13. My accordion at the time was a full-size Excelsior 120 bass model that weighed about 35 pounds. My professional playing career took a…

One thing I was born with, aside from my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), was narrow feet. As part of a working-class family, where money always seemed to be in short supply, my feet became an added expense that my mom combated by being a thrifty shopper. If she saw…

About a month ago, I came home from playing with my church’s music group at a nursing facility. We played a doubleheader, doing a set in the memory care wing, then another in the personal care area. Because of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), I’ve stopped doing back-to-back…