Some days, I feel overwhelmed by the symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), but I never feel like giving up. I know that having a disability or chronic illness can take a toll on one’s physical and emotional state. Lately, I have been seeing many people posting in online communities…
Linda Crabtree’s autobiography, “CMT and Me,” begins with loving descriptions of her parents. Her words, accompanied by childhood photos printed on the pages, gave me a vivid sense of what kind of people her parents were. I was eager to lose myself in Crabtree’s imagery of growing up…
Last weekend, I realized how tough it is to do certain things due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). It affects my balance, coordination, gait, and dexterity in my hands. That means that simple things like putting on jewelry or zipping up a dress can be frustrating. I have discovered a…
Five years ago, I had a conversation with one of my writer friends. I had heard through the grapevine that she was working on a new story: a thriller featuring a protagonist with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). I was surprised at her choice of lead character because CMT isn’t a well-known…
A lot of people on the internet are talking about the benefits of celery juice. Scores of people, including celebrities, claim to feel better after drinking 16 ounces of pure celery juice each morning. Some claim that it gives them relief from a variety of diseases and disorders. I decided…
When I meet up with old college friends, we often spend time reminiscing. We recall late nights, trips, and past relationships. Looking back, we think about how much has changed in our lives; our careers, relationships, and bodies have altered a lot in the decade since graduation.
The other day, someone posed the question, “What do you hate the most about having Charcot-Marie-Tooth?” I could probably write a book about what I hate about this disease. The same person also asked, “What do you like the most about having Charcot-Marie-Tooth?” That proved to be harder…
This past week, I grabbed lunch with an old friend, Kevin Schaefer. He writes a great column for SMA News Today. Our conversations over lunch usually revolve around nerdy topics such as the latest trailer for “…
About 10 years ago, I found myself walking down a busy side street near one of the larger night markets in Taipei, Taiwan. No direct family members lived there, and although I am ethnically Chinese, my Mandarin is extremely limited. In short, I’m what those in the Asian…
Why do people tell me they are proud of me for going to the gym? Is that something that I should be proud of? Yes, it is true that going to the gym and working out is not always the easiest thing to do, but does that make it a…
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